China, Japan To Reengage With United States On Trade In New Year
The United States will engage in new trade discussions with both Japan and China in the new year.
Next week, a U.S. government delegation will be in China for the first face-to-trade discussions since President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to a temporary truce on Dec. 1. (As a reminder, if the two countries cannot reach a deal by March 1, 2019 President Trump has pledged to increased t tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods to 25 percent from 10 percent.)
Additionally, after the Christmas holiday and after a call between U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan’s lead trade official, negotiators from the two countries said they would start deliberations on a new bilateral trade deal, debating manufactured goods and the financial, telecommunications, and pharmaceutical sectors at a meeting set for late January.
Also on tap: European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer are scheduled to meet during the week of Jan. 7 as part of ongoing trade negotiations.