The US Trade Representative’s (USTR) officially changed the scheduled date of tariff hikes on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods to March 2, 2019 as the United States and China pursue talks on trade and intellectual property. The change was made in a Federal Register filing from a previously scheduled effective date of January, 1, 2019 for increase to 25 from 10 per cent. The notice does not affect the 25 per cent tariff already levied on $50 billion worth of Chinese technology items, including semiconductors, printed circuit boards and other electronic components, machinery and vehicles.
The change was attributed to new US-Chinese engagement with the goal of obtaining the elimination of the acts, policies, and practices covered in the investigation following a December 1 meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Buenos Aires.
The USTR statement made reference to goals set forth by the White House to negotiate over a 90-day period structural changes by China on forced technology transfer, intellectual property protection, non-tariff barriers, cyber intrusions and theft, services and agriculture.
