New China tariffs could be on the docket for the Biden administration, according to Wednesday comments by officials from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
A tariff on China is among the options the Biden administration is considering should China fail to fulfill its purchasing commitments outlined in the Phase One trade deal. The Chamber’s head of international affairs, Myron Brilliant, told reporters the Chamber is not endorsing any of the options at this point in time.
“Should those talks not succeed in meeting the terms of the agreement, then I do think there are vehicles by which the administration can consider taking further action,” he said.
Brilliant also told reporters that the United States may join forces with allies in Europe to confront China together.
“Any action against China that isn’t done in a multilateral way, isn’t worked out with Europe and with our friends in Asia, will not be as productive.”
WELCOME THE POOR WINTER OLYMPICS TV RATINGS
December data revealed that China fell flat on its previous trade commitments. Reuters reported that China failed to “increase U.S. purchases by $200 billion,” a stipulation set in the Phase One deal. China reached only 60% of its purchasing targets between January 2020 and November 2021, according to the Peterson Institute‘s Chad P. Bown.
The 2022 Winter Olympics are currently underway in Beijing, provoking mass protests around the world due to reports of forced labor of Uyghur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang province.
Olympians have complained about the living conditions at the games. “My stomach hurts, I’m very pale and I have huge black circles around my eyes. I want all this to end. I cry every day. I’m very tired,” said one athlete.
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Only 16 million viewers tuned into this year’s opening ceremonies, a 43% drop from 2018 to 2022. The decline could be attributed to China’s recent controversies.
