Trade correspondent L.C. reports: President Trump threatened Japan with unspecified action over its persistent trade surplus with the US. The threat came in a telephone conversation with Wall Street Journal assistant editor James Freeman, who quoted the President as saying that the US has “good relations” with Japan but that he “is still bothered by […]
Trump threatens Canada, NAFTA, WTO, and Congress
Trade correspondent L.C. reports: President Trump this past week issued threats against Canada, NAFTA, the WTO, and Congress. The rest of the world has been responding pro-actively by forming free-trade pacts without the US. In an intense week for the NAFTA renegotiation that followed last week’s announcement of a US-Mexico bilateral agreement, talks with Canada […]
Trade war threat beginning to damage global markets and investments
L.C.’s weekly trade report follows: Tariff trigger pulled; some damage to global markets and investments appears Following the failure of bilateral talks the Trump administration has followed through, as expected, by imposing 25% tariffs on about $50 billion worth of Chinese exports. That represents about 10% of the annual value of US goods imports from […]
As G7 ends, President Trump opposes allies rather than concerting measures against China
Trade correspondent L.C. reports on the unraveling of the G7 summit. When the annual Group of Seven Summit (G7) in Charlevoix (Quebec) on June 8th-9th ended, President Trump decided to oppose allies rather than concert with them measures against China. This raises questions about all aspects of US trade policy going forward: The escalating moves […]
China retaliates against US with tariffs hitting Midwest farmers
Founders Broadsheet trade correspondent L.C. reports: Late Sunday April 1st, China announced that effective immediately it will be imposing tariffs of 25% on eight US exports, including pork, and 15% on one hundred and twenty other US exports, including fruits. This is China’s response to President Trump’s Section 232 (defense-related) steel and aluminum tariffs announced […]
