Trump gives reprieve on tariffs

United States

Responding to pressure from businesses and growing fears that a trade war is threatening the US economy, the Trump administration is delaying most of the import taxes it planned to impose on Chinese goods and is dropping others altogether.

The announcement yesterday from the Office of the US Trade Representative was greeted with relief on Wall Street and by retailers who have grown fearful that the new tariffs would wreck holiday sales.

The administration says it still plans to proceed with 10 per cent tariffs on about $300 billion in Chinese imports – extending its import taxes to just about everything China ships to the United States in a dispute over Beijing’s strong-arm trade policies.

But under pressure from retailers and other businesses, President Donald Trump’s trade office said it would delay until December 15 the tariffs on nearly 60 per cent of the imports that had been set to absorb the new taxes starting September 1.

Among the products that will benefit from the three-month reprieve are such popular consumer goods as cellphones, laptops, video game consoles, some toys, computer monitors, shoes and clothing.

The administration is also removing other items from the tariff list entirely, based on what it called ‘‘health, safety, national security and other factors.’’

Separately, China’s Ministry of Commerce reported that top Chinese negotiators had spoken by phone with their US counterparts, Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and planned to talk again in two weeks.

The news sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average soaring more than 400 points in mid-afternoon trading. Shares of Apple, Mattel and shoe brand Steve Madden, which stand to benefit from the delayed tariffs, led the rally.

Speaking to reporters in New Jersey, Trump confirmed that he had decided to delay the tariffs, which could force retailers to raise prices, to avoid the economic pain that could result during the holiday period.

‘‘We’re doing (it) just for Christmas season, just in case some of the tariffs could have an impact,’’ the president said.

Trump has repeatedly argued that his tariffs are hurting China, not American consumers. But by delaying higher tariffs on consumer goods, Trump is tacitly acknowledging that his import taxes stand to squeeze American households, too.

Tariffs are taxes paid by US importers, not by China, and are often passed along to US businesses and consumers through higher prices.

Together, the news of negotiations and tariff delays provided at least a respite after weeks of heightened Us-china trade tensions. The relief might prove only temporary, though, if the tariffs eventually take full effect and Beijing retaliates against US exports. –