retaliatory tariffs

A recent independent report suggests U.S. trade aid in 2019 for farmers may surpass limits set in World Trade Organization commitments. The report for the American Enterprise Institute by Joe Glauber, a former Department of Agriculture Chief Economist, suggests the size of payments made to producers in 2019 may encourage other WTO members to challenge the payments...

U.S. and Beijing officials, lawyers, and other trade experts all tell Reuters that a “phase two” trade deal between the U.S. and China is nowhere near imminent.  The two largest economies in the world are still having trouble getting the phase one deal signed.   Back in...

U.S. legislation supporting Hong Kong protesters didn’t stop China’s trade chief from making a phone call recently to invite U.S. negotiators to a new round of trade talks.  The Wall Street Journal says U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were invited to Beijing for more face-to-face trade negotiations.  While it wasn’...

Market Facilitation Program payments to eligible producers should be rolling out nationwide this week, that according to Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue.  He said the producers of eligible commodities will receive 25% of the total MFP payments for this year.  Th...

Promised for mid-November, reports this week suggest an agreement and signing of the so-called phase one trade deal with China faces delays until mid-December. However, China maintains that the talks are on track.   A Chinese government spokesperson told reporters this week “China is willing to work with the United States to resolve each other’s core concerns," adding the "external rumor

The U.S. and China are still trying to put the final touches on a limited trade agreement that will involve Chinese purchases of U.S. ag commodities. The question appears to be just how much those purchases will amount to. A CNBC report says the two sides appear to be stuck in a stalemate, even though they announced a tentative agreement a month ago...

President Trump defended his tariff policies during a speech on Tuesday at the Economic Club of New York.  Politico said he denied that his erratic trade policies are causing uncertainty for U.S. businesses.  Trump doubled down, saying the U.S. would “...

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is working on reforming Section 232 tariff authority. The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, says Congress gave away their authority on trade to the White House back during the Kennedy Administration.  Grassley is now looking for legislators to take back some of the power they gave away.  ...

China wants the United States to commit to lifting tariffs to reach a phase one trade agreement. The South China Morning Post reports Beijing needs America to be more responsive to its concerns, if it wants Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit the U...

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross seems confident the U.S. and China will reach a Phase One agreement this month on trade. Speaking at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Ross says the U.S. and China are “making good process,” according to Bloomberg News. He added t...