Trump Admin Starts Caving On China Trade War, Removes Some Items From Tariff List

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, delivered an on-camera press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, on Monday, July 31, 2017. (Photo by Cheriss May) *** Please Use Credi... U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, delivered an on-camera press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, on Monday, July 31, 2017. (Photo by Cheriss May) *** Please Use Credit from Credit Field ***(Sipa via AP Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Remember when trade wars were “good and easy to win”?

The United States Trade Representative announced on Tuesday that it was removing several items from its list of tariffs on Chinese imports “based on health, safety, national security and other factors” that would’ve been subjected to President Donald Trump’s new 10 percent tariff.

The USTR will also delay tariffs on cell phones, laptops, computer monitors, video game consoles, and “certain items of footwear and clothing” until December 15.

President Donald Trump had tweeted in early August that he was slapping a 10 percent tariff on an additional $300 billion dollars’ worth of Chinese imports effective September 1, which would force Americans to pay extra taxes on goods like iPhones and other electronics.

Economic experts have warned that Trump’s trade war with China poses a major threat to U.S. markets and could risk a recession next year, not to mention the additional costs to U.S. consumers.

Latest News
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: