US Trade Representative Katherine Tai talks about Biden administration's approach to trade with China, discussing the impact of raised tariffs on Chinese imports. Vox's Dylan Matthews adds insights on the complexities of international trade relations and avoiding losing industries to foreign monopolies.
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Quick takeaways
President Biden raised tariffs on Chinese imports to address unfair trade practices, aiming for negotiation leverage.
Biden administration shifts focus to prioritize workers and domestic industries while balancing free trade principles.
Deep dives
The Trade War Between the US and China
President Trump initiated a trade war with China in 2018, imposing tariffs on Chinese goods that led to increased prices on apparel, some food products, and even American flags. China retaliated, particularly impacting American farmers. Despite initial criticism, President Biden maintained most of these tariffs upon taking office and further raised them on certain products, aligning with a strategy focused on addressing unfair trade practices.
Tariffs as Strategic Tools
US Trade Representative Catherine Tai highlighted tariffs as crucial trade tools, emphasizing their strategic rather than emotional use. She explained how tariffs on Chinese goods were part of a reciprocal response to address unfair trade practices like technology transfer and intellectual property rights abuse. This approach aimed to create leverage for negotiating changes in China's behavior while strategically aligning tariffs with sectors of US investment.
Transitioning Trade Policy towards Workers
The Biden administration's trade policy signifies a shift towards prioritizing workers and domestic industries over previous notions of free trade. They aim to strike a balance between fostering domestic production, as seen with tariffs on electric vehicles, and transitioning to environmentally friendly solutions. Overall, the administration seeks a trade policy that benefits workers and raises global trade standards for long-term economic growth.
President Biden recently raised Trump-era tariffs, which could lead to even higher prices on Chinese imports. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai explains the Biden administration’s approach to trade with China, and Vox’s Dylan Matthews helps make sense of the changes.
This episode was produced by Miles Bryan with help from Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King.