Trade Representative Katherine Tai said, the United States is not yet ready to lift tariffs on Chinese imports, but could be open to talks with Beijing.
In January 2020, ex-president Donald Trump signed an accord between Beijing and Washington after a bruising trade battle that saw tariffs imposed by both sides. But the former trade lawyer warned that suddenly axing the levies could harm the US economy unless a policy reversal is communicated in a way that allows the government to make adjustments.
Tai said, while she recognized the tariffs were taking a toll on some US businesses, they had been imposed to remedy an unbalanced and unfair trade situation. She has already discussed Beijing's trade practices in calls with Japanese ministers, and in her confirmation hearings said she supported a holistic review on China.
