President Trump threatened on Thursday slapping tariffs on $100 billion more worth of goods from China, just after the U.S. Trade Representative announced it would hit $50 billion worth of imports from China.
In response to the Trump administration’s proposed tariffs on Chinese goods, the Chinese government announced Wednesday that is was planning to exert a 25 percent tariff on $50 billion worth of U.S. imports including soybeans, aircraft, beef, and cars, among other things.
As a result, Trump has ordered the U.S. trade representative to evaluate whether tariffs on an additional $100 billion Chinese products should be implemented and which products the tariffs would impact.
“Rather than remedy its misconduct, China has chosen to harm our farmers and manufacturers. In light of China’s unfair retaliation, I have instructed the USTR to consider whether $100 billion of additional tariffs would be appropriate under section 301 and, if so, to identify the products upon which to impose such tariffs,” Trump said in a statement shared by the White House’s office of the press secretary. “I have also instructed the Secretary of Agriculture, with the support of other members of my Cabinet, to use his broad authority to implement a plan to protect our farmers and agricultural interests.”
Trump added that the U.S. is open to holding conversations to promote “free, fair and reciprocal trade” to safeguard the technology and intellectual property of Americans.
“Notwithstanding these actions, the United States is still prepared to have discussions in further support of our commitment to achieving free, fair, and reciprocal trade and to protect the technology and intellectual property of American companies and American people,” Trump added. “Trade barriers must be taken down to enhance economic growth in America and around the world. I am committed to enabling American companies and workers to compete on a level playing field around the world, and I will never allow unfair trade practices to undermine American interests.”
On Tuesday, the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office released an official list of products that would be impacted by the tariffs on $50 billion worth of imports. The list could change though, as it will go through a public comment period and the USTR will have a public hearing on the issue.
The list follows the Trump administration filing an official complaint this week with the World Trade Organization arguing China was violating WTO rules by rejecting foreign patent holders basic patent rights.
China had requested a “consultation” with the WTO, the preliminary stage in filing an official complaint, following the White House’s announcement last month of tariffs of 25 percent on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminum ones. China has argued the tariffs violate the WTO’s rules, but the administration says they are exempt because they involve national security.
