USTR targets Chinese barriers to digital trade, ‘Made in China 2025’ program in new NTE

The 2017 National Trade Estimate Report features a new set of grievances concerning Chinese “barriers to digital trade” and blasts Beijing’s state-directed “Made in China 2025” plan for seeking to provide domestic companies advantages over foreign ones. [Jack Caporal] March 30, 2017 [Inside US Trade] The report from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, released annually,…

Trump Administration Lays Groundwork to Keep Big Tariffs on Chinese Goods

WASHINGTON—The Trump administration appears poised to cement China’s unfavorable status in trade cases, making Chinese goods eligible for higher U.S. tariffs well into the future. [William Mauldin] March 29, 2017 [The Wall Street Journal] U.S. officials are preparing a review of China’s “market-economy status” under the World Trade Organization, according to official documents on the…

Draft NAFTA Renegotiation Plan in Official Fast Track Notice Letter Would Not Fulfill Trump’s Pledge to Make NAFTA ‘Much Better’ for Working People or Enjoy a Congressional Majority

For those who trusted Trump’s pledge to make NAFTA “much better” for working people, it’s a punch in the face because the proposal could have come from any past pro-NAFTA administration and describes the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) or any other same-old trade deal. [Lori Wallach, Director] March 30th, 2017 [Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch] If…

WTO Failed to Achieve a Peaceful China

Satellite images published this week confirm that China has almost completed the construction of a variety of military assets in the Philippine and Vietnamese South China Sea, assets that allow it to deploy fighter jets and missile launchers at a moment’s notice and provide it expanded surveillance capabilities. [FRANCES MARTEL] March 28, 2017 [Breitbart] The images…