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US-China trade: expect more carrots and sticks from Biden White House, analysts say
- Assessment follows US trade representative’s outline of the administration’s policy
- Delay in statement reflects divisions in the government over what tack to take, Chinese observer says
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Washington will continue its “carrot and stick” approach to trade with China, analysts said after a top US trade official unveiled the White House’s long-awaited policy on the issue.
US trade representative Katherine Tai formally laid out the White House’s China trade policy in a speech to the Washington think tank Centre for Strategic and International Studies on Monday morning, nearly nine months into the presidency of Joe Biden.
Tai’s address followed a top-to-bottom review of import tariffs and other measures imposed by the administration of Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump.
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In her speech, Tai said China had failed to meet some commitments in the phase one trade deal between the two countries, an agreement that allows the United States to unilaterally reimpose tariffs in cases of non-compliance, and sounded pessimistic that the situation would change without a hard line.
02:18
US trade chief calls for ‘pragmatic approach’ in reveal of China strategy
US trade chief calls for ‘pragmatic approach’ in reveal of China strategy
High-level bilateral dialogues carried out by successive administrations after China acceded to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001 “were intended to push China towards complying with and internalizing WTO rules and norms, and making other market-oriented changes”, she said.
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