The Tamesis
Bilateral tensions between China and the United States have increased as Washington this week launched an investigation into China and dozens of other countries for unfair trade practices.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative announced on Wednesday and Thursday that Section 301 60 countries will be investigated for unfair trade practices 16 trading partners were accused of industrial overcapacity for “failing to take action against forced labor”.
Beijing has voiced opposition to the moves, which are seen as a way to renew tariff pressure on countries following the U.S. Supreme Court blocks Trump administration’s use of emergency laws to impose global tariffs All trading partners last month.
See also: Top Chinese cobalt mine causing illness, death in DRC: report
China’s Ministry of Commerce claimed that the United States has no right to “unilaterally” determine whether a trading partner has overcapacity and then take restrictive measures.
It vowed to review the investigation and said it had the authority to take all necessary measures to defend its interests.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday dismissed false labor claims as “a lie concocted by the United States,” Reuters reported.
However, these trade disputes are not new. this The United States has been cracking down on solar panels and other goods from China’s western Xinjiang region for years. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention LawIt’s a law enacted by former President Joe Biden and widely endorsed by major human rights groups.
There are also Chinese ones “Industrial overcapacity” This is an issue that the Biden administration, the European Union, and even the United States are also protesting against. IMF recommendations need to be addressed.
The two sides will meet in France
The claims come as trade representatives from the two countries are due to meet in France this weekend for a new round of talks. US President Donald Trump will visit Beijing at the end of this month.
Finance Minister Scott Bessant and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will discuss the issues with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
This meeting will be the sixth round of talks between the two sides since the United States announced the imposition of additional tariffs in April last year. Beijing hits back at Washington with restrictions on exports of critical minerals and tariffs of its own – until Negotiated and agreed to armistice in late October.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer issued a statement late Thursday: “These investigations will determine whether foreign governments have taken sufficient steps to ban the import of goods produced with forced labor and why they failed. Eliminating these abhorrent practices impacts American workers and businesses. “
The 60 countries and economies on the list include China and Russia, as well as some of the United States’ major allies and trading partners such as Australia, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Israel, India, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Are there clouds over Trump’s visit to China?
After the Supreme Court’s decision, Trump imposes 10% tariff 150 days under Section 122 of the Trade Act 1974.
Greer said he hopes other countries will impose bans on goods produced using forced labor, similar to those enshrined in nearly a century of trade laws.
The United States accuses Chinese authorities of establishing labor camps for Uighurs and other Muslim groups. But Beijing denies accusations of abuse.
Greer said he hopes to complete the Section 301 investigation, including proposed remedies, before Trump’s temporary tariffs expire in July.
China may also be unhappy with this US and Israeli attacks on Iranwhich to a certain extent restricts the export of oil and fertilizers to the mainland.
However, Beijing’s strong response to these trade investigations could also be seen as a relatively standard rant ahead of business negotiations between the two close rivals.
Will they cast a shadow over trade negotiations? and president Trump visits Beijingfrom March 31st to April 2nd? No one seems to have suggested this yet.
Let’s see what the weekend brings.
See also:
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Trump cuts U.S. tariffs to 47%, Xi Jinping vows to ease rare earth restrictions
US adds 30 more Chinese companies to blacklist for forced Uyghur labor
U.S. holdings of Indian solar panels may be linked to forced labor in China
More Chinese companies blacklisted for forced Uyghur labor
