President Donald Trump said in an Aug. 23 tweet that he is planning an unspecified response to new tariffs that China will impose on U.S. goods. China's tariffs are in relation to the coming Section 301 10 percent tariffs on Chinese goods, most of which will begin on Sept. 1. “Our great American companies are hereby ordered to immediately start looking for an alternative to China, including bringing your companies HOME and making your products in the USA,” Trump tweeted. “We don’t need China” and the U.S. “would be far better off without them,” he said. “The vast amounts of money made and stolen by China from the United States, year after year, for decades, will and must STOP.”
President Donald Trump tweeted repeatedly about the China trade conflict the night of Aug. 14 and during the day on Aug. 15, explaining his decision to defer some tariffs until Dec. 15 and predicting “we will soon be winning big on Trade.”
Some candidates running for the Democratic presidential nomination emphasized the cost to consumers of tariffs, while others focused on how past trade deals encouraged outsourcing, on July 30 in the first of two consecutive nights of debates. A CNN moderator put Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, on the spot by asking him whether he sides with steelmakers or steel consumers in his decision to continue or end Section 232 tariffs on steel. Ryan, whose hometown of Youngstown was once a steel powerhouse, pivoted to talking about China. But when pressed, he said, "I would have to re-evaluate. I think some of them are effective. But he's bungled the whole thing, obviously."
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin traveled to Shanghai for July 30 and 31 talks on a comprehensive U.S.-China trade deal, the White House said July 30. Vice Premier Liu He and Commerce Minister Zhong Shan led the Chinese delegation, it said. “The two sides discussed topics such as forced technology transfer, intellectual property rights, services, non-tariff barriers, and agriculture.” The Chinese “confirmed their commitment to increase purchases” of U.S. agricultural exports, it said. “The meetings were constructive, and we expect negotiations on an enforceable trade deal to continue” in Washington in early September, it said. The Shanghai meetings were the 12th round of negotiations that started in December, and were the first face-to-face talks between the sides since the negotiations broke down in May over Trump administration allegations that the Chinese reneged on previously agreed-to commitments. Overhanging the talks is the threat that the administration could put the List 4 Section 301 tariffs into effect at any time on virtually all Chinese goods not previously dutied.
President Donald Trump told a Brazilian reporter July 30 that the U.S. will work on a free trade agreement with Brazil. Trump, who spoke about Brazilian trade talks at gaggles both before and after his trip to Jamestown, Va., said, "Brazil is a big trading partner. They charge us a lot of tariffs, but other than that we love the relationship." He said he's sure they'll be successful at trade talks. "I have a fantastic relationship with your president," he told the Brazilian reporter. "And he's a great gentleman. He was here, as you know. In fact, they say the 'Trump of Brazil.' I like that. That’s a compliment."
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, laid out sweeping changes to U.S. trade policy she'd like to see, touching on fast track, free trade agreement negotiating principles, labor enforcement, tariff sunsets and a border carbon adjustment tax. Warren, who published her trade agenda July 29, said the current trade policy is dictated by multinational corporations. "Those big corporations have gotten rich but everyone else has paid the price," she wrote.
China is unlikely to reach agreement with U.S. trade negotiators, President Donald Trump said, as it prefers to wait and see if the next president takes a different approach. He was speaking to reporters at a press conference July 26 announcing an asylum policy with Guatemala. "I think China would probably say, 'Let’s wait. Let’s wait. Maybe Trump will lose and we can deal with another dope or another stiff,' like the people that allowed these deals to happen, this horrible thing to happen to our country," he said, according to a transcript released by the White House. Trump said that after he wins a second term, China and other countries "almost immediately" are going to sign "phenomenal deals."
President Donald Trump on July 26 directed the U.S. trade representative to seek changes at the World Trade Organization that would prevent rich countries from claiming benefits reserved for developing countries in WTO agreements.
President Donald Trump, who had threatened a tariff on Guatemalan goods (see 1907230024), told reporters at the White House that Guatemala had agreed to let foreigners who are seeking asylum in the U.S. apply for that protection from Guatemala. The deal would cover Hondurans, Cubans, Africans -- anyone who is traveling through Guatemala on their way to the southern border of the U.S. If migrants do not apply in Guatemala, but try to apply when they reach the U.S., they would automatically be denied refuge.
President Donald Trump tweeted in the morning July 26 that the U.S. would "announce a substantial reciprocal action on Macron’s foolishness shortly. I’ve always said American wine is better than French wine!" Trump, who was angry about the digital services tax France put on what he called "our great American technologies companies," reportedly does not drink alcohol. Later in the day, a White House spokesman issued a statement that said: “The United States is extremely disappointed by France’s decision to adopt a digital services tax at the expense of U.S. companies and workers. France’s unilateral measure appears to target innovative U.S. technology firms that provide services in distinct sectors of the economy. It also demonstrates France’s lack of commitment to the ongoing [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)] negotiations. The Trump Administration has consistently stated that it will not sit idly by and tolerate discrimination against U.S.-based firms. The U.S. Trade Representative has already launched a Section 301 investigation into France’s digital services tax, and the Administration is looking closely at all other policy tools.” Wine was already on the proposed tariff list to compensate for Airbus subsidies (see 1904090031).