US sets deadline to end trade war with China

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Photo: Reuters

Interviewed on the news agency's "Face the Nation" programCBS, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said on December 9: "As far as I know, this is a fixed deadline. When I talked to the President (Donald Trump), he did not mention extending it beyond March." Lighthizer implicitly mentioned President Trump's recent decision to postpone raising tariffs on Chinese goods under a trade "ceasefire" agreement between the two countries.

“The way this deal is set up is that after 90 days, we can raise tariffs again,” Mr. Lighthizer emphasized, in order to refute speculation that the US-China trade negotiations could still last beyond 90 days.

The official added that after a week of market turmoil, investors “can now be reassured that the United States and China will reach a deal that will ensure protection of American technology and greater access to the (Chinese) market for American companies.” “President Trump wants that. If not, we will put tariffs back on,” he said.

The comments came shortly after President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached a trade truce on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina on December 1. Accordingly, the US will postpone raising tariffs on Chinese goods during 90 days of negotiations.

However, policy advisors of President Trump's administration seem to be a bit confused about this agreement when the head of the White House recently left open the possibility of extending the trade "truce" agreement, on the other hand, asking Beijing to take immediate actions to show goodwill in negotiating to end the trade war between the world's two leading economies.