The November 15th, 2021 trade report with L.C. The US and Japan are moving closer to an agreement in the dispute over the US Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo released a joint statement on November 12 announcing the “start of consultations” with Tokyo on […]
Administration favors costly welfare and climate policies over US trade and allies
Despite major election losses, the Biden administration keeps neglecting US farmers and industry — and strategic allies Japan and UK — in order to pursue expensive welfare entitlements and Net Zero climate programs sought by the Democratic Party left. The November 8th, 2021 trade report with L.C. There is a split over China policy within […]
Western Pacific powers sign RCEP free trade pact
Conclusion of RCEP increases China’s influence as Trump administration neglects its western Pacific trade partners The weekly trade report with L.C. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was signed on November 15th. It took eight years of difficult negotiations. India opted out, but it represents a major accomplishment for the remaining 15 countries. These are […]
US-China “phase one” delayed, might be “phase last”
The weekly trade report by our correspondent, L.C. The cancellation of the November 16th-17th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Santiago prevented the possible signing of a “phase one” US-China trade agreement. Both Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping had been expected to attend, making a signing ceremony easy to arrange. While an agreement could validly […]
2018 in trade: China on defensive; TPP-11 underway
The year 2018 is ending with the Trump administration having usefully set China’s hostile trade policy back on its heels but only at considerable cost to US exports – a cost that could been avoided by concerting the anti-China measures with its EU and Japanese allies from the beginning. It is also the 20th anniversary […]
