Donald Trump announces $233 billion deal to halt China tariffs
The United States and China announced a “Phase one” trade agreement that reduces some US tariffs in exchange for a big jump in Chinese purchases of American farm products and other goods.
Beijing has agreed to import at least $US200 billion ($290 billion) in additional US goods and services over the next two years on top of the amount it purchased in 2017, US officials say.
If the purchases are made, they would represent a huge jump in US exports to China. China bought $US130 billion ($188 billion) in US goods in 2017, before the trade war began, and $US56 billion ($81 billion) in services, US Bureau of Economic Analysis data show.
In return, the United States would suspend tariffs on Chinese goods due to go into effect on Sunday and reduce others, US officials said.
The 86-page agreement is due to be signed the first week of January in Washington by principal negotiators.
“We have agreed to a very large Phase One Deal with China,” US President Donald Trump tweeted Friday morning.
We have agreed to a very large Phase One Deal with China. They have agreed to many structural changes and massive purchases of Agricultural Product, Energy, and Manufactured Goods, plus much more. The 25% Tariffs will remain as is, with 7 1/2% put on much of the remainder….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2019
Officials in China have “agreed to many structural changes and massive purchases of Agricultural Product, Energy, and Manufactured Goods, plus much more”, he said.
Trump later told reporters at the White House that he thought China would hit $US50 billion ($72 billion) in agricultural purchases, repeating a promise he made to US farmers in October.
At a news conference in Beijing, Chinese officials said the two sides had agreed on the text of a deal, but offered no specific details on the amount of US goods China had agreed to buy.
US markets have gyrated on rumours and leaks about the trade deal in recent months, but were muted on Friday on news it had been agreed.
The agreement was announced as the US House Judiciary Committee voted to charge Mr Trump with abuse of power and obstruction during an impeachment inquiry.
It also followed closely on the heels of a deal with the US Congress paving the way for passage of a new North American trade agreement.
He is not easily distracted, so good on him.
What’s not to like, although the proof of the deal will be in the actions.
I am very dissapointed that Trump has backed down.
What the USA really wants is for China to stop manipulating their currency, and stealing their IP and top make their financial transactions more transparent.
China will not give in easily on any of these things.
He should held out for some real action, they were buying US soya beans before!
Read the first sentance again
“Phase one” trade agreement”
What’s hard to understand diggy?
Phase one means there is still more to come.
Hard night on the piss still affecting you?
Phase 2 might just mean giving in to China even more
I want to see some meaningful action from China, just just buving soya beans and pork.
The present 45th and also will be the 46th President Of The United States Of America!
Mr Trump!
Like China the US plays a long game and Donald knows that China has some big structural and financial problems that are difficult to correct short/medium term. One indication if the number of Corporate debt defaults which in 2019 already exceed 2018 figures and 2020 is already being predicted as worse. A major issue for China is distrust and in this area they have few friends in their locality due to actions in the S China sea. As US and other Corp orates remove their production from China social issues will create tensions domestically something that historically has been a concern for Chinas rulers.
yes anecdotally some companies are moving to Vietnam where the labour is cheaper! and maybe the tarifs dont’ apply.
And lots of clothes are now made in Bangladesh
That makes me laugh when our burger flippers get $20 an hour and yet wages in Chain at $4 are too expensive!
Some if not all of them were set up by chinese companies with the express intention of avoiding the tarrifs imposed on chinese sourced goods.
I guess that has backfired on them.
Good on him.
In return, the United States would suspend tariffs on Chinese goods due to go into effect on Sunday and reduce others, US officials said.
What is the impact of this, though?
“We have agreed to a very large Phase One Deal with China. They have agreed to many structural changes and massive purchases of Agricultural Product, Energy, and Manufactured Goods, plus much more.”
– Will importing “massive purchases of Agricultural Product” affect NZ agricultural imports into China?
No because what we export to china, we also export to the US.