Joe Biden says he won’t lift tariffs on Chinese imports since Beijing hasn’t abided by phase one trade deal
- US president says China is not meeting its commitments, made under the Trump-era trade agreement, to purchase more American goods
- Biden acknowledges pressure from the business community but says it’s not enough to convince him to change course
“I’d like to be able to be in a position where I can say they’re meeting the commitments, more than the commitments, to be able to lift something, but we’re not there yet,” Biden said at a White House press conference.
The comments were the latest sign that Biden is continuing to hold a hard line on China policy one year into his administration, from human rights to trade, even as he has moved quickly to reverse many other policies put in place by his predecessor, Donald Trump.
Biden and his trade negotiator, Katherine Tai, have also resisted pressure from some corners of the American business community to lift the tariffs.
Critics of the tariff policy, in place since July 2018, say they have not changed Beijing’s economic behaviour but have hurt the United States. Supports of the tariffs say they are a necessary tool to protect American workers from China’s cheap, state-subsidised exports.
Biden acknowledged the pressure from parts of the business community on Wednesday, but said it was not enough to persuade him to change course – especially without any major concessions from China.