US President Donald Trump has announced that the US intended to introduce tariffs on China over its alleged unfair trade practices.

 

The tariffs would cover up to $60 billion of Chinese goods while limits would be placed on its investments in the US.

 

Trump on Thursday directed the US trade representative to level tariffs on Chinese imports following a seven-month investigation into the intellectual property theft, which has been a longstanding point of contention in US-China trade relations. 

 

In addition to the tariffs, the US also plans to impose new investment restrictions, take action against China at the World Trade Organization and the Treasury Department also will propose additional measures.

 

"We have a tremendous intellectual property theft problem," Trump said. "It's going to make us a much stronger, much richer nation."

 

The move, which comes on the heels of the administration's steel and aluminum tariffs that also took aim at China, has already been met with threats of retaliation from China and is heightening concerns of a global trade war that could destabilize the global economy -- fears the Trump administration has repeatedly brushed off.

 

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer initiated the investigation in August 2017 at the direction of President Trump.

 

The President has instructed that the appropriate response to China’s harmful acts, policies and practices should include three separate actions. 

 

* Tariffs – The president has instructed the trade representative to publish a proposed list of products and any tariff increases within 15 days of today’s announcement.  After a period of notice and comment, the trade representative will publish a final list of products and tariff increases. 

 

* WTO dispute – The president has instructed the trade representative to pursue dispute settlement in the World Trade Organization (WTO) to address China’s discriminatory technology licensing practices. 

 

* Investment restrictions – The president has directed the Secretary of the Treasury to address concerns about investment in the US directed or facilitated by China in industries or technologies deemed important to the US.

 

“President Trump has made it clear we must insist on fair and reciprocal trade with China and strictly enforce our laws against unfair trade.  This requires taking effective action to confront China over its state-led efforts to force, strong-arm, and even steal US technology and intellectual property,” said Ambassador Lighthizer.  “Years of talking about these problems with China has not worked.  The United States is committed to using all available tools to respond to China’s unfair, market-distorting behavior.  China’s unprecedented and unfair trade practices are a serious challenge not just to the United States, but to our allies and partners around the world.”

 

The Chinese government’s technology transfer and intellectual property policies are part of China’s stated intention of seizing economic leadership in advanced technology as set forth in its industrial plans, such as “Made in China 2025.”

 

Section 301 is a key enforcement tool that allows the US to address a wide variety of unfair acts, policies, and practices of US trading partners.  The investigation of China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation addresses four categories of acts, policies, and practices of the Government of China that unfairly result in the transfer of technologies and intellectual property from US companies to China.  These policies harm US businesses and workers and threaten the long-term competitiveness of the US. 

 

USTR staff, with the assistance of dozens of experts from across the Administration, prepared a comprehensive report containing detailed findings.  

 

The report supports the following conclusions:

China uses foreign ownership restrictions, including joint venture requirements, equity limitations, and other investment restrictions, to require or pressure technology transfer from US companies to Chinese entities.  China also uses administrative review and licensing procedures to require or pressure technology transfer, which, inter alia, undermines the value of US investments and technology and weakens the global competitiveness of US firms.

 

China imposes substantial restrictions on, and intervenes in, US firms’ investments and activities, including through restrictions on technology licensing terms.  These restrictions deprive US technology owners of the ability to bargain and set market-based terms for technology transfer.  As a result, U.S. companies seeking to license technologies must do so on terms that unfairly favor Chinese recipients.