Robert Lighthizer says U.S. will not raise tariffs further
By
Joseph Richter
Published on
The trade representative is known as a China hawk
Robert Lighthizer (Credit:AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told lawmakers yesterday that the U.S. has formally abandoned its plan to raise tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports. Axios reported that there are still significant hurdles in negotiations, but Lighthizer is hopeful a deal can be reached.
Snapback tariffs: One of the enforcement mechanisms in the proposed deal would require both countries to meet frequently to discuss potential violations, according to a report in the NYTimes. If China fails to live up to its pledges, tariffs would potentially be reimposed.
Bottom line: Past negotiations have failed as China has never followed through on their commitments. The Chinese have mastered the art of stalling with the U.S. government. It’s crunch time.