President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States will impose a 10 percent duty on an additional $200 billion of Chinese imports as of next week, quickly escalating a trade war that has hit broad swaths of the global economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor months, we have urged China to change these unfair practices, and give fair and reciprocal treatment to American companies,\u201d Trump said in a statement announcing the move. \u201cWe have been very clear about the type of changes that need to be made, and we have given China every opportunity to treat us more fairly. But, so far, China has been unwilling to change its practices.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trumps latest announcement brings the total amount of Chinese goods hit with tariffs to about $250 billion, or roughly half of the $505 billion that the United States imported from China last year. It also carries through<\/a> on an announcement his administration made in early July to hit a broad range of Chinese goods with additional levies after Beijing retaliated against an earlier Trump tariff action.<\/p>\n Until now, Trumps tariffs have mostly been on industrial goods but this latest move will be felt much harder by consumers. Trump also said that a second phase \u2014 a boost to the tariff rate to 25 percent \u2014 will take place at the beginning of 2019. Such a ratcheting up is likely to make it impossible for U.S. companies that rely on Chinese products to absorb the added costs.<\/p>\n Retailers and many other business groups recoiled at the announcement, which they said would hit consumers in the pocketbook.<\/p>\n Beijing warned ahead of Trumps move that it would respond swiftly.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cWe are extremely discouraged by the administrations announcement to levy tariffs on millions of products American consumers buy every day,\u201d said Hun Quach, vice president of international trade for Retail Leaders Industry Association. \u201cTariffs are a tax on American families, period. Consumers \u2014 not China \u2014 will bear the brunt of these tariffs and American farmers and ranchers will see the harmful effects of retaliation worsen.\u201d<\/p>\n Beijing also warned ahead of Trumps move that it would respond swiftly. \u201cIf the U.S. imposes any additional tariffs on China, we will have to take necessary countermeasures and resolutely safeguard our legitimate and legal rights and interests,\u201d Geng Shuang, a foreign ministry spokesman, said during his daily press conference held before Trumps announcement.<\/p>\n Trump, however, warned Monday that if China takes additional \u201cretaliatory action against our farmers or other industries, we will immediately pursue phase three, which is tariffs on approximately $267 billion of additional imports.\u201c That would encompass virtually all of Chinas exports to the United States.<\/p>\n Some consumer electronics like smart watches and Bluetooth devices were removed from the tariff list, as were bicycle helmets and child safety furniture like car seats, high chairs and playpens, a senior administration official told reporters. Certain chemicals used in manufacturing and in textile and agricultural production were also dropped, the official added.<\/p>\n USTR initially targeted goods from Chinas high-tech sectors in the initial round of tariffs to minimize the direct hit to consumers.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n But other Chinese goods will be subject to an additional 10 percent tax as of September 24, which will likely be passed onto consumers. The products include canned mandarin oranges, rawhide for pets, hair care products, dog leashes and dog collars, luggage, handbags, wrapping paper, gas grills, makeup mirrors, vacuum cleaners, toothbrush replacement heads, razors, air conditioners, toaster ovens, futons, patio furniture, wooden furniture, mattresses and Christmas lights, according to a preliminary list<\/a> released by the administration earlier this year.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a global retailer, Walmart is very concerned about the disruptive impact of these proposed tariffs on our customers and suppliers both in the United States and China,\u201c the retail giant said in public comments.<\/p>\n A recent study for the National Retail Federation estimated a 10 percent tariff would cost consumers an additional $2.1 billion on purchases of furniture and $578.2 million on purchases of travel goods alone. Raising the duty to 25 percent would increase consumer costs to $4.6 billion on furniture and $1.2 billion on travel goods, the study found.<\/p>\n The tariffs will increase government revenue and help domestic producers, but they are still a \u201cnet negative\u201d for the economy because \u201cconsumers reduce purchases and pay more for what they do buy,\u201d the NRF study said.<\/p>\n Other industry groups expressed concern over Trumps latest tariff move.<\/p>\n \u201cThis extreme use of tariffs hurts our nations access to global markets and threatens many of the 1.3 million good-paying equipment manufacturing jobs our industry supports,\u201d Dennis Slater, president of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, said.<\/p>\n Trump left one window open for the escalating tariff battle to be addressed \u2014 by his personal intervention. \u201cHopefully, this trade situation will be resolved, in the end, by myself and President Xi of China, for whom I have great respect and affection,\u201d he said in the White House statement. Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in late November, when both leaders attend the annual G20 summit in Argentina.<\/p>\n A coalition of groups opposed to the tariffs took issue with Trumps claim that the move will not hurt consumers.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The basis for Trumps action began over a year ago when Office of the U.S. Trade Representative started an investigation<\/a> under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act which allows the president to impose tariffs in response to unfair trade practices.<\/p>\n After a seven-month inquiry, including a hearing<\/a> where only a few business groups asked to testify, USTR accused<\/a> China of unfairly pressuring U.S. companies to transfer valuable technology to do business in its markets and of implementing other \u201cacts, policies, and practices\u201d that harm or discriminate against the United States.<\/p>\n It also highlighted concerns about Beijings \u201cMade in China 2025\u201d program, which is aimed at achieving commercial dominance in 10 strategic industries, including advanced information technology; robotics and automated machine tools; aircraft and aircraft components; new energy vehicles; and pharmaceuticals and advanced medical devices.<\/p>\n To that end, USTR initially targeted goods from Chinas high-tech sectors in the initial round of tariffs to minimize the direct hit to consumers. But after China retaliated by hitting an equivalent amount of U.S. goods, including many agricultural exports, Trump upped the ante by threatening another $200 billion of Chinese goods.<\/p>\n For its part, China has said<\/a> it would retaliate on an additional $60 billion worth of U.S. exports, bringing its total to around $113 billion if Trump proceeds. It will target more than 5,200 types of goods<\/a> that it imports including liquefied natural gas and honey.<\/p>\n In a last-minute bid to prevent further tariff escalation, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin last week invited Chinese Vice Premier Liu He to Washington for more talks. However, Trumps decision to proceed with more tariffs adds uncertainty to that effort. The Chinese foreign ministry spokesman cautioned that additional duties do not help discussions.<\/p>\n \u201cThe escalating trade disputes serve the interests of neither side\u201d Geng said. \u201cWe always believe that dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality, good faith and mutual respect make the only viable way out for the China-U.S. trade issues.\u201d<\/p>\n One former U.S. trade official said she doubts it matters whether the talks take place.<\/p>\n \u201cTrump loves tariffs and hes not going to let his people make a deal with China. Well probably have to live with these tariffs while he is in office,\u201d Christine McDaniel, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center, a free-market think tank. \u201cIt may be time for multinationals that ship out of China to rethink supply chains if they hope to escape the tariffs.\u201c<\/p>\n A coalition of groups opposed to the tariffs took issue with Trumps claim that the move will not hurt consumers. \u201cThese tariffs are going to be paid for by the working families who drive our economy,\u201d said Jonathan Gold, a spokesman for a group called Tariffs Hurt the Heartland. \u201cTariffs are taxes, plain and simple. By choosing to unilaterally raise taxes on Americans, the cost of running a farm, factory or business will grow.\u201d<\/p>\n President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States will impose a 10 percent duty on an a..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":91026,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[202],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-91025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-finance"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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