US-China relations: trade chief Katherine Tai lays out hardline approach with ‘world’s leading offender’ label
- Annual National Trade Estimate Report from the Office of the United States Trade Representative vowed to continue battling what it sees as significant trade barriers that are harming American companies and farmers
- It also vowed to work to address Chinese subsidies that have created excess capacities in the steel, aluminium and solar sectors, and could soon affect other industries
The United States government on Wednesday vowed to continue battling what it sees as significant trade barriers that are harming American companies and farmers, and singled out China as the “world’s leading offender” in creating overcapacities in several sectors.
The US Trade Representative’s office (USTR) said its annual report on the issue showed “significant barriers that present major policy challenges with implications for future US growth opportunities, and the fairness of the global economy”.
It said it would engage with foreign governments on various issues that threaten US exporters, including digital policies, agricultural trade barriers and technical barriers.
It also vowed to work to address Chinese subsidies that have created excess capacities in the steel, aluminium and solar sectors, and could soon affect other industries.
China’s state-led approach to the economy and trade makes it the world’s leading offender in creating non-economic capacity
US trading partners have been waiting anxiously to meet with Tai and understand how the Biden administration will shift its trade policies after four years of disruptive tariffs imposed by the administration of former president Donald Trump.
The 570-page National Trade Estimate Report released on Wednesday showed that Washington will continue to challenge China and other countries that impose trade barriers or other regulatory hurdles, and limit access to US companies.