Every Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee told U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer that while they want changes to USMCA as part of the six-year review of the pact, he should make clear that the U.S. plans to keep the trilateral free trade agreement, and that he is committed to "a durable, mutually beneficial relationship with our partners that ensures the gains from trade are shared broadly both within and across our North American markets."
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer declined to mention specific products he'd like to facilitate importing from China following talks between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, but expanded the scope beyond what both he and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previously said.
China's purchases of American cotton declined 87% last year, wrote Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, as he and 11 other House of Representatives members from cotton-growing states asked the U.S. trade representative to press China to eliminate its 10% tariff on U.S. cotton and make purchase promises, as it did in the phase one deal made in Trump's first term.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the administration will solicit comments on which types of "non-sensitive goods" should get tariff relief, so that trade can be facilitated between the U.S. and China.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is asking for feedback on the International Trade Commission's recommendation that a tariff rate quota on quartz surface products be applied to slabs and fabricated items, with a 25% in-quota rate and a 40% over-quota rate for the first year of a four-year safeguard. The rates would decline by 1 percentage point each of the next three years.
Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., and 78 other representatives asked U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to "evaluate trade actions that can safeguard U.S. growers from unfair pressures from Mexico" as it reviews the USMCA.
Nineteen members of Congress asked the U.S. trade representative to follow through with his announcement that he expects to initiate a Section 301 investigation on seafood, and said that investigation should not be limited to subsidies and unregulated fishing.
Former U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai told reporters May 11 that she’s concerned the U.S. and China will neglect holding substantial conversations about their trade and economic relationship in talks between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled to begin later in the week.
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
On the eve of President Donald Trump’s May 13-15 trip to Beijing, three veteran trade experts said the U.S. is moving toward a more “managed” approach to trade with China, as the administration prepares to raise a proposed U.S.-China Board of Trade during the visit.