American manufacturers expect a trade deal between the U.S. and China to be announced within “the next couple of weeks” but think tariffs on Chinese goods will likely remain in place for longer, said Ryan Ong, director of international economic affairs policy for the National Association of Manufacturers. Ong, speaking at an export controls and customs information session at KPMG offices in Washington on March 6, said the increasingly “intense negotiations” between the U.S. and China during the last few months suggest a deal is close.
Several industry representatives voiced frustrations about e-commerce’s impact on U.S. importers at a March 1 CBP meeting (see 1902110020), calling for a more streamlined filing system and a crackdown on foreign sellers. A common complaint by the industry leaders was a lack of transparency from foreign companies when they sell through online marketplaces. The public meeting, titled “The 21st Century Customs Framework,” featured multiple panels of industry representatives offering suggestions and criticisms of the current customs system to government officials from CBP, the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission, among others.