US Retailers Say Tariffs on Chinese Goods are Hurting Business

 

The Biden administration shows no sign of easing Trump's tariffs

by Dave DeCamp Posted onAugust 10, 2021CategoriesNewsTagsChina

A group of US retailer associations is arguing that tariffs on Chinese goods are hurting business. Seven groups, including the National Retail Federation (NRF), filed a brief with the US Court of International Trade on Monday in support of US businesses negatively affected by China tariffs.

The brief supports a lawsuit filed by over 6,000 plaintiffs in September 2020 against the tariffs that have been implemented since 2018. “Thousands of American businesses have been forced to pay these taxes to import Chinese goods and products, which ultimately results in higher prices for US consumers,” NRF said in a press release on the brief.

“The Biden administration has kept these tariffs in place when American businesses are doing their best to safely serve customers and keep workers on their payrolls during the pandemic,” the release said.

US business groups have been urging the Biden administration to change its trade policy towards China since the cost of the tariffs falls on US importers, retailers, and consumers. Last week, more than 30 US industry groups sent a letter to the Biden administration calling for the US and China to resume trade talks with the eventual goal of the “full removal of tariffs.”

The letter argued that since the signing of the Phase One trade deal in January 2020, China has “met important benchmarks and commitments that benefit American businesses, farmers, ranchers, and workers.”

In a statement on the letter to The South China Morning Post, a spokesman for the US Trade Representative pointed to the growth of the US economy this year and signaled the Biden administration was in no rush to ease tariffs or enter new trade talks.

“As we make historic infrastructure investments and Build Back Better, we are conducting a robust, strategic review of our economic relationship with China to create effective policy that delivers results for American workers, farmers, and businesses and puts them in a stronger position to compete with China and the rest of the world,” the spokesman said.

China is one issue where there is a rare bipartisan consensus in Washington. Democrats and Republicans agree the US must take action against China on trade and other issues, like Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and the South China Sea.

https://news.antiwar.com/2021/08/10/us-retailers-say-tariffs-on-chinese-goods-are-hurting-business/