Punitive US trade action against China ‘imminent’, former top trade negotiator warns
‘We will see trade actions taken against certain trading partners in the coming weeks,’ former acting deputy US trade representative Wendy Cutler said
A former US government trade official warned that Washington is likely to announce trade retaliation measures against China “imminently”.
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer “has [US President Donald Trump’s] ear on China, and as such he has initiated a Section 301 investigation on Chinese unfair trade practices on intellectual property, including the practice of so-called forced technology transfer, and we are expecting actions to be announced against China imminently”, former acting deputy US trade representative Wendy Cutler said.
“There is a real convergence of different views on how to handle these issues going forward,” Cutler said during a panel discussion at the New York-based Asia Society.
“We’re going to see more trade actions taken against certain trading partners in the coming weeks. The announcement that was made just two weeks ago on import protection for washing machines and solar panels is just the beginning of a series of announcements that will be coming. “
Cutler’s comments reflect a harder line Trump has taken against China since he wrapped up a state visit to China in November. Trump hailed a raft of business deals and investments worth about US$250 billion, which he said would help offset a yawning trade imbalance in China’s favour. Since then the deficit has grown, reaching a record US$276 billion for full-year 2017.
The US Chamber of Commerce, which counts IBM, Ford Motor Co and other multinationals operating in China among its members, hailed the prospect of imminent action by Trump.
