US trade chief recommends higher tariffs to combat China’s ‘unfair’ practices

WASHINGTON: U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Tuesday recommended raising tariffs on a range of Chinese products, saying additional measures were needed to combat China’s technology transfer policies and practices that harm American workers and businesses.

She said research showed that previous Section 301 tariffs imposed on China had a minimal impact on prices and employment across the U.S. economy overall, but had been effective to reduce U.S. imports of Chinese goods, while increasing imports from other countries.

Tai recommended increased funding for tariff enforcement and said increased collaboration between the private sector and government could combat what she called “state-sponsored technology theft.”