USTR Katherine Tai sat for a two hours-plus hearing with the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday to discuss trade matters and was met early on by some staunch criticism.
Biden called on USTR Tai to consider tripling the existing 301 tariff rate on Chinese steel and aluminum, and to investigate China’s unfair trade practices in shipbuilding, maritime and logistics sectors.
How bad does Beijing’s behavior have to become before the U.S. stops talking with China? It’s time to take pragmatic steps, including the removal of China’s MFN, to protect our national interest.
Tariffs that began in 2018 have not destroyed the U.S. economy. The stock market did not crash. Tariffs weren’t the cause of inflation either. And many manufacturing industries from kitchen cabinets in Alabama to solar in Ohio are thriving because of them.
How can U.S. industry, small and large, compete against countries with much weaker currencies, lower labor and environmental regulatory costs, and the overproduction and dumping that come from Asia?
Despite the best efforts of Ambassador Tai and others, it’s time for our lawmakers and the administration to take punitive action and address Mexico’s blatant disregard of the trade agreement.
The 118th Congress (2023-2024) is easily the best Congress we’ve had in the 21st century when it comes to tariff policy. U.S. Senators in particular are introducing new tariff bills for different products and industries.