Textile products become caught up in China-US trade dispute
05/04/2018
This dispute between the two trading partners began in March when the US imposed tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium from China. On March 23, the government in Beijing said it was “extremely unhappy” about this and said it would take necessary measures to defend its interests. It went on to list an initial 128 products that are now subject to tariffs if imported into China from the US.
In early April, the US made its next move, announcing 25% tariffs on imports of 1,300 products from China, mostly industrial, technology, transport and medical products.
The most recent development is further retaliation from China. On April 4, it published a new list, naming a further 106 products that will be subject to tariffs, or additional tariffs (some are subject to a lower level of tariffs already) if brought into China from the US.
Textile products feature on the April 4 list. These include uncombed cotton, polyester, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate plate film foil strips, other (unspecified) self-adhesive plastic sheets and films, other (unspecified) plastic products, other (unspecified) primary vinyl polymers and polyamide 6,6.
China has said it will only impose tariffs on these products after the tariffs the US announced in early April kick in. Commentators have expressed hope that the time-lag may allow enough constructive dialogue to take place to avert these measures coming into force.
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