WASHINGTON: The US Trade Representative’s office said it prolonged tariff exclusions on Chinese-made medical products wanted to address the COVID-19 pandemic for another six months, to Nov. 30.
The eliminations from tariffs of up to 25% imposed by former President Donald Trump’s administration were approved in 2020. and were afterwards stretched
But were due to expire on May 31, USTR said.
Products affected by the extension include face masks, surgical gloves, hospital gowns, and other related products and devices.
The trade battle between the US and China began when then-president Donald Trump obligatory tariffs on USD350 billion worth of Chinese products, citing what he called biased trade practices and theft of US technology and rational property.
With inflation at its highest level in more than four spans, President Joe Biden is under compression to end so-called “Section 301” tariffs, many of which are due to interval in July.
USTR officials have said they are reaching out to businesses and the public to hunt for comment on whether to outspread the tariffs.
In Washington and Beijing in January 2020 signed a so-called “phase one” trade agreement.
Under which Beijing promised to increase its purchases of American products and services by at least USD200 billion over 2020 and 2021 – but the target was not met amid the COVID-19 pandemic.