Gold Silver Reports (GSR) – The Trump administration is pressing countries to ally with the U.S. in pushing back against Chinese trade policies in exchange for relief from American tariffs on steel and aluminum, according to a European official.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has been leading negotiations under which countries may be excluded from the tariffs of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminum. American trading partners and U.S. companies are pressing for exemptions and exclusions from the tariffs, which take effect on Friday.
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In talks with the U.S., Lighthizer has laid out five conditions that countries must address before being excluded, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. A second non-U.S. official confirmed the broad outlines of the five conditions.
The qualifications are:
💚 Limiting steel and aluminum exports to the U.S. to 2017 levels
💚 Actively addressing China’s various trade-distorting policies
💚 Being more assertive and cooperative with the U.S. at the G-20 Global Steel Forum
💚 Cooperating with the U.S. in launching cases against Chinese practices at the WTO
💚 Enhancing security cooperation with the U.S.
💚 The U.S. Trade Representative’s office didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.
