Trade correspondent L.C. reports: The planned Trump administration tariffs of 10% on $200 bn. of Chinese imports will hit US consumers directly — unlike the previous tariffs, which were on producer goods (steel and aluminum) and thus hit manufacturers first. The list US Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer has prepared contains 6,031 products. The tariffs […]
NAFTA deadline looms, President flips on ZTE, Congress mulls defenses
May 14th. Trade correspondent L.C. reports: NAFTA Important developments in the NAFTA renegotiation took place this week: House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) announced that he considers May 17th the final day on which the Administration can notify Congress that it has essentially finished the renegotiation and intends to sign the agreement — if the current […]
Despite export boom, US tax cuts and deficit will increase imports over exports, threatening ill-considered administrative protectionism
Trade correspondent LC’s weekly report The probability that the trade deficit will continue to grow presents a danger for US trading partners. The recent US tax cuts and government spending hike will likely increase US demand, keeping US savings lagging consumption and attracting even more imports, pushing the trade deficit up. Strong demand abroad should […]
Transpacific Partnership now live — minus US. Trump on protectionist drive?
Weekly trade report by L.C. Late breaking item! As we went to press, Canada’s Prime Minister Trudean announced that Canada had accepted joining the Transpacific Partnership (TPP-11). It’s now live — without the U.S. This is a major world trade development that will put much pressure on the US, especially its crucial agriculture sector. Yesterday […]
Canada files with WTO a global attack on US unfair-trade laws
Weekly trade report for Jan. 8-14, 2018 by L.C. Canada has filed a new World Trade Organization (WTO) complaint against the US that is stunning in its scope. It targets in detail the way the US implements its unfair-trade laws, enumerating many practices that are at the core of US trade-remedy measures but that allegedly […]
