U.S. to Delay Some China Tariffs Until Stores Stock Up for Holiday Shoppers

Source: N.Y Times

August 13, 2019 at 13:25

The delay in tariffs comes as the Trump administration faces mounting pressure from businesses and community groups who say the continuing trade war with China is hurting them.CreditCreditEtienne Laurent/EPA, via Shutterstock

Mr. Trump has been pressing Beijing since last year to make a trade deal that would, among other things, strengthen protections for American intellectual property, open Chinese markets to American business and result in China buying large quantities of American energy and agricultural goods.

The Trump administration on Tuesday narrowed the list of Chinese products it plans to impose new tariffs on as of Sept. 1, delaying levies on cellphones, laptop computers, toys and other goods to spare shoppers from higher prices during the back-to-school and holiday seasons. Stocks soared on the news.

The move, which pushed a new 10 percent tariff on some goods until Dec. 15 and excluded others entirely, came as President Trump faces mounting pressure from businesses and consumer groups over the harm they say the continuing trade war between the United States and China is doing.

Mr. Trump’s earlier tariffs on Chinese imports were carefully crafted to hit businesses in ways that everyday Americans would mostly not notice. But his announcement this month of the 10 percent tariff on $300 billion of Chinese goods meant consumers would soon feel the trade war’s sting more directly.

On Tuesday, Mr. Trump acknowledged as much.

“We’re doing this for the Christmas season,” he told reporters around noon. “Just in case some of the tariffs would have an impact on U.S. customers.”

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