Trump’s trade wars: China likely to hike tariffs on US pork, aluminium | World News - Hindustan Times
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Trump’s trade wars: China likely to hike tariffs on US pork, aluminium

Agencies | ByAgencies
Mar 23, 2018 09:24 AM IST

China’s move appeared to be a calculated step aimed at increasing domestic American pressure on Trump by making clear which exporters, especially farming areas that supported the president in the 2016 election, might be hurt.

China announced a list of US goods including pork, apples and steel pipe on Friday on which it might raise tariffs in an escalating trade dispute with US President Donald Trump.

In this April 13, 2017 photo, a warehouse worker watches as government inspectors check imported frozen pork in Qingdao in eastern China's Shandong province.(AP File Photo)
In this April 13, 2017 photo, a warehouse worker watches as government inspectors check imported frozen pork in Qingdao in eastern China's Shandong province.(AP File Photo)

The commerce ministry called on Washington to negotiate a settlement to the conflict over higher US import duties on steel and aluminium but set no deadline.

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In a statement on Friday, the ministry said China urged the United States to avoid taking bilateral trade relations to a “dangerous place”.

Beijing’s move appeared to be a calculated step aimed at increasing domestic American pressure on Trump by making clear which exporters, especially farming areas that supported the president in the 2016 election, might be hurt.

The dispute has weighed on global financial markets amid concern it could spiral into a damaging round of retaliatory import controls by governments worldwide.

The higher American duties on aluminium and steel have little impact on China, which exports only a small amount of those products to the United States. But private sector analysts have said Beijing would feel obligated to take action to avoid looking weak in a high-profile dispute.

The country’s top economic official, Premier Li Keqiang, earlier appealed to Washington to “act rationally” and said, “we don’t want to see a trade war.”

The Commerce Ministry said the higher US tariffs “seriously undermine” the global trading system. It rejected Trump’s contention they are needed to protect US national security.

“The Chinese side urges the US side to resolve the concerns of the Chinese side as soon as possible,” the ministry said. It appealed for dialogue “to avoid damage to overall Chinese-US cooperation.”

The commerce ministry said in a statement that China hopes the United States will pull back “from the brink”, and be prudent in its decisions, adding that it resolutely opposes US unilateralism and protectionism.

China has made full preparations to defend its legitimate interests and it is not afraid of a trade war, although it doesn’t want one, the ministry said.

Beijing reported a trade surplus of $275.8 billion with the United States last year, or two-thirds of its global total. Washington reports different figures that put the gap at a record $375.2 billion.

US authorities also are investigating whether Beijing improperly compels foreign companies to hand over technology in exchange for market access, which could lead to still more trade penalties.

Goods targeted for possible higher tariffs in Friday’s list include pork and aluminium scrap. They would receive a 25% duty increase, mirroring Trump’s 25% tariff hike for steel.

The Commerce Ministry said China bought about $2 billion worth of those goods last year.

A second list targeted for 15% duties, the level of Trump’s charge on aluminium, includes wine, apples, ethanol and stainless steel pipe. The ministry said Chinese purchases of those goods last year were about $1 billion.

On Tuesday, the Chinese premier promised at a news conference that Beijing will “open even wider” to imports and investment as part of efforts to make its economy more productive.

Li said that included eliminating tariffs on drug imports. But he gave no other details and it was unclear whether the planned changes might mollify Washington, the European Union and other trading partners that complain China improperly blocks access to its markets and subsidises exports.

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