U.S. trade office targets $300 billion Chinese imports

The Hindu
Dated: May 14, 2019
Sriram Lakshman

     The USTR proposes tariff hike on 3,805 Chinese goods.

       The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on Monday published plans to increase tariffs on 3,805 Chinese imports, valued at about $300 billion. The move was expected since the end of last week and is the latest in a game of tit-for-tat tariffs which will mean that almost all Chinese goods entering the U.S. will be taxed at the higher rate, if the policy is implemented.

Monday’s proposed list of goods, which will now attract up to 25% tariffs, includes laptops, mobile phones, clothing, motorbikes and toys. Pharmaceuticals will be excluded.

“What’s been left out so far, presumably for political reasons, is the consumer side of Chinese imports into the U.S. This latest list of $300 billion picks that up, “Joshua P. Meltzer, a global economics and trade specialist at Brookings, a Washington DC based think-tank, told The Hindu.

“How much of the negative impact of these tariffs, if they go through, depends on how much firms pass on to American consumers and the extent to which this backfires on Trump politically also depends on consumers making the link between any price increases and the trade conflict with China,” Mr. Meltzer said.


The USTR has announced a request for written comments from the public by June 17 and a public hearing on the tariff proposition on that day, days before U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Japan at the G-20 leaders summit.

“Slapping tariffs on everything U.S. companies import from China — goods that support U.S. manufacturing and provide consumers with affordable products — will jeopardize American jobs and increase costs for consumers,” National Retail Federation President Matthew Shay said, according to the news agency Reuters.

On Monday, Beijing said it will retaliate against last week’s higher tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods going to U.S. markets with higher tariffs on $60 billion worth of U.S. goods sold in China, starting June 1.

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