Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross touted the Trump administration’s more aggressive stance on trade issues in a post on the White House’s blog, saying the U.S. can “no longer afford to be ignorant or naive” in the global marketplace.
Ross said tat his department had pursued investigations into dumping of more than $1 billion of aluminum and metal imports from China and other countries and had imposed duties on imports of more than $2 billion in foreign steel and other products.
“Our message is simple – the games are over, and improper treatment of the United States will no longer be tolerated. We will approach future negotiations and actions with a clarity of purpose guiding us as we work to establish both free and fair trade,” Ross said.
He said the administration still intended to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement and that it is working with Congress on that. “Unfortunately, NAFTA negotiations cannot begin until Congress accepts our 90-day notification letter in compliance with the Trade Promotion Act,” Ross said. The White House sent a letter to Congress last month stating its priorities for negotiating and is seeking feedback before it sends the official 90-day notice.
Meanwhile, President Trump said he would not name China a currency manipulator this year — another major trade isuee — despite repeated campaign promises to do so on his first day in office. Trump explained that China hasn’t been artificially manipulating the yuan recently and because doing so would hurt the U.S. in negotiations with China over North Korea.
