US seeks comments on China tariffsAFP, WASHINGTONThe US would take public comments regarding exclusions from its tariffs on China, the White House announced on Tuesday, as the administration of US President Joe Biden grapples with what it views as Beijing’s failure to honor a trade deal. On Monday, US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai (戴琪) announced that Washington would seek “frank conversations” with China over its adherence to an agreement made last year that was meant to cool commercial tensions between the two economic powers. That deal came after Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, imposed tariffs on US$370 billion of Chinese products in 2018, citing trade practices Washington deemed “unfair.”US Trade Representative Katherine Tai speaks at a meeting at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on Monday. Photo: BloombergHowever, many US firms have criticized the levies, saying that they drive up costs, as importers bear their brunt. “The focus of the evaluation will be whether ... the particular product remains available only from China,” it said.

Source: Taipei Times October 06, 2021 15:56 UTC