Speaking to a group of reporters at the White House recently, President Trump said that tariffs on Chinese imports would stay in place even after a trade deal with China has been reached. The tariffs will remain effective until it becomes clear that China is complying with any trade deal reached between the two countries.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer arrived in Beijing today to continue trade negotiations with Chinese officials. The trade negotiations had reportedly stalled due to the Chinese negotiators demanding the tariffs be removed once a trade deal has been reached. U.S. negotiators pointed out that it could take several months to establish whether certain portions of the proposed deal are being upheld by China.
At home, one of PPAI’s coalition partners with Americans for Free Trade gave testimony at a hearing Tuesday before the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Trade. The Subcommittee on Trade is responsible for matters related to international trade, including customs, tariffs, the negotiation and implementation of reciprocal trade agreements, and international trade rules and organizations.
Susan J. Monteverde, vice president of government relations for the American Association of Port Authorities, spoke on the ports’ economic impact and on the value of international trade. The hearing, “Trade And Labor: Creating And Enforcing Rules To Benefit American Workers,” was intended to gather information on how trade policies—such as tariffs and trade agreements like the USMCA—are affecting American workers.