Tensions between the United States and China are increasing over trade issues. On Wednesday, China announced plans to increase taxes on $50 billion of U.S. goods. The Chinese measures would increase tariffs by 25 percent on 106 products, such as soybeans, airplanes and cars. The Associated Press said the list includes the biggest U.S. exports to China. China’s announcement answers U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to increase tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods. The U.S. list, released Tuesday, strikes at China’s high-technology industries. Chinese officials did not say when the tariff increase on U.S. imports would take effect. They say the timing will depend on what the Trump administration does. Why the clash? On the U.S. side, the tensions between the two countries is tied to Trump’s promise to reduce a trade deficit with China. Last year, the deficit was more than $375 billion. On the Chinese side, the ruling Communist Party is trying to develop the country’s economy, especially high-tech companies. But foreign business people say Chinese rules limit competition and sometimes require them to help Chinese businesses improve their products. Chinese officials say their government does not discriminate against foreign businesses. And the deputy commerce minister told reporters that China had not planned to increase taxes on U.S. imports. “It must be said, we have been forced into taking this action,” he said. What could happen next? Many officials in both countries are urging the two sides to negotiate. However, a small but active group of people in China are already calling for a boycott of U.S. products. Internet commenters have noted the power of Chinese citizens. Last year, Chinese consumers informally boycotted South Korean goods after South Korea accepted a U.S.-made anti-missile system. Their boycott was estimated to have reduced South Korea’s economic growth last year by .4 percentage points. As yet, observers do not see any signs of an organized campaign in China to reject U.S. goods. But they noted the danger of creating a negative image around American products. Wine expert Jim Boyce lives in Beijing and writes a blog called Grapewallofchina. He said additional taxes on wine could have an effect, but that cost was not the only issue of concern. “Are we going to see people in China worried about drinking American wine because of politics?” he said. “That’s the bigger problem.” I’m Kelly Jean Kelly. Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Her story includes information reported by the Reuters news agency and the Associated Press. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story informally - adv. not officially negative - adj. harmful or bad blog - n. Web site on which someone writes about personal opinions, activities, and experiences
from Voice of America https://ift.tt/2q7s1st
via IFTTT
الاشتراك في:
تعليقات الرسالة (Atom)
المشاركات الشائعة
-
As President of the United States, Donald Trump shakes a lot of hands. But look out. If you shake Trump’s hand, you might get pulled off y...
-
Even in the world of medicine, what is old is new again. Thousands of years ago, Egyptians used it to sterilize drinking water. Ancient Roma...
-
00:00:02 OPRAH WINFREY: "Hattie Mae, this child is gifted," and I heard that enough that I started to believe it. 00:00:08 ...
-
An unpublished United Nations report says that North Korea sent materials that could be used in chemical weapons to Syria and missile techno...
-
Olayemi Samson is a Nigerian entrepreneur. He is turning plastic waste into useful things like clothing, school bags, car covers and shoes...
-
Learn from your hosts, Anne and Jonathan the meaning of momentous. from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2a2yXS4 via IFTTT
-
Zimbabwe wants small business to be able to get credit to start or grow a business. If the country’s Parliament approves a bill proposed l...
-
South Korea’s government proposed on Monday to hold military talks with North Korea to reduce tensions between the two countries. The South ...
-
Tensions between North and South Korea have increased sharply since the North’s announcement that it tested a nuclear weapon for the fourt...
-
The first-ever direct China-to-Britain freight train arrived in London last week. It was the latest evidence of China’s efforts to redevel...
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق