China suspends tariff hikes on $126 billion worth of U.S. cars, trucks and auto parts
China on Friday announced a 90-day suspension of tariff hikes on $126 billion worth of U.S. cars, trucks and auto parts following its cease-fire in a trade battle with Washington that threatens global economic growth.
The suspension is China’s first step in response to President Trump’s Dec. 1 agreement to suspend U.S. tariff hikes for a similar 90-day period while the two sides negotiate on American complaints about Beijing’s technology policy and trade surplus.
China has indicated that it plans to move ahead with the talks despite strains over the arrest of a Chinese technology executive in Canada to face possible U.S. charges related to a violation of trade sanctions on Iran.
Beijing will suspend a 25% import charge on $66 billion worth of cars and trucks and a 5% charge on $60 billion worth of auto parts, effective Jan. 1, the Finance Ministry announced.
The announcement helped give substance to Trump’s agreement with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, after prolonged uncertainty caused jittery global financial markets to swing wildly.
The Chinese penalties were imposed in response to Trump’s decision to slap 25% tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods and a 10% charge on an additional $200 billion worth of good. The second tariff was due to rise Jan. 1 until Trump agreed to the postponement.
The United States and other trading partners complain that Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology in violation of its market-opening obligations. American officials also worry Chinese industry plans that call for state-led creation of global champions in robotics and other fields threaten U.S. industrial leadership.
A spokesman for China’s Commerce Ministry, Gao Feng, said Thursday the two sides were in “close contact” but gave no timetable for possible face-to-face negotiations.
Economists say 90 days probably is too little time to resolve conflicts that have bedeviled U.S.-Chinese relations for years. They say Beijing’s goal probably will be to show it is making progress so Trump extends his deadline.
Beijing officials expressed confidence China could withstand U.S. pressure but the fight battered consumer confidence and threatened export industries that support millions of jobs.
Friday’s announcement “shows the Chinese government is willing to solve trade disputes through consultation based on equality,” said Song Lifang, an economist at Renmin University in Beijing.
The tariff cut lowers the charge for U.S.-made cars and trucks to 15%, the same level as imports from other countries.
“If the United States cuts or remove tariffs on Chinese goods, China will surely follow up with further relevant measures,” Song said.
