Top U.S. trade negotiator Katherine Tai on Monday pledged to exclude some Chinese imports from tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump while pressing Beijing in “frank” talks over its failure to keep promises made in Trump’s trade deal and end harmful industrial policies.
Tai said the United States would keep all options open as it continues to push China to stop pouring billions of dollars of state subsidies into its semiconductor, steel and other industries that Washington says harm U.S. companies.
Unveiling the results of a months-long “top-to-bottom” review of China trade policy, Tai said she will seek a meeting with Chinese vice premier Liu He in coming days to review China’s failure to comply with the “Phase 1” trade deal launched in February 2020, including a shortfall of promised U.S. goods purchases.
“Above all else, we must defend – to the hilt – our economic interests,” Tai told an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. “That means taking all steps necessary to protect ourselves against the waves of damage inflicted over the years through unfair competition.”
Click here to read the full report from David Lawder and Andrea Shalal at Reuters.