US-China trade war: The everyday items set to get more expensive

The
People’s Republic of China flag and the U.S. Stars and Stripes
fly along Pennsylvania Avenue near the U.S. Capitol in Washington
during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s state visit, January 18,
2011.
REUTERS/Hyungwon
Kang

• Trump is proposing new 25% tariffs on Chinese
  imports.
• A hearing on the proposals starts in Washington on
  Monday.
• The new tariffs “dramatically expand the harm to
  American consumers, workers, businesses, and the economy,” the
  US Chamber of Commerce said in written testimony.
• Furniture, lighting products, tires, chemicals,
  plastics, bicycles, cradles, and Chinese seafood are among the
  imports set to be hit by the new duties,
  Reuters reported.

The Trump administration’s proposed $200 billion in tariffs on
Chinese imports will force Americans to pay more for everything
from cradles to seafood, businesses have warned.

Monday is the first session of a six-day hearing in Washington on
the proposed 25% tariffs, which are part of the Trump
administration and US Trade Representatives’ efforts to put
pressure on Beijing.

The US Chamber of Commerce, which represents a wide range of
American Businesses, said in written testimony for the hearing
that the new tariffs will “dramatically expand the harm to
American consumers, workers, businesses, and the economy.”

Past rounds of sanctions have mainly targeted Chinese industrial
machinery and intermediate goods, but the proposed tariffs could
affect thousands of consumer products by late September, Reuters
reported. Furniture, lighting products, tires, chemicals,
plastics, bicycles, cradles, car seats for babies, and Chinese
seafood are all set to be hit by the new duties.

The Trump administration lacks a “coherent strategy” to address
China’s theft of intellectual property and other harmful trade
practices, the US Chamber of commerce said according to
Reuters’ report. It called for “serious discussions” with
Beijing.

The USTR received over 1,400 written comments from businesses
about the Trump administration’s plan. Most businesses argued the
tariffs will cause harm by raising costs on products and
services.

The largest bicycle brand in the US, Huffy, said a 25% tariff
poses a “serious threat to the company.” It sells 4 million
Chinese-made bikes per year.

“There is no other country in Asia or Europe that can provide the
volume Huffy requires as China is the largest bicycle producer in
the world,” Bill Smith, the CEO of Huffy Corp, said in his
submission.

Graco Children’s Products, which makes car seats for babies, said
there would be an increase in customers buying second-hand items
for their children.

“[The tariffs] will have a direct negative impact on our company,
American parents, and most importantly the safety of American
children.”

Trump administration officials and their Chinese counterparts are
expected to meet later this week in Washington to discuss their
trade dispute.