Though new or higher tariffs appear all but inevitable under Donald Trump’s imminent second term as US president, some American small businesses still hope their pleas of lifting the import duties imposed since 2018 will be heard, said a senior US trade analyst.
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Policymakers in both countries “should listen attentively” to American businesses that trade with China, Douglas Barry said. His newly published book Smart Rabbits tells the stories of US enterprises that have endured the trade war and subsequent worsening of the bilateral relationship.
Barry is a former executive of the US-China Business Council, a Washington-based non-profit organisation.
Summarising the demands of these firms, Barry said there should be no tariffs on bilateral trade and more should be done to boost the sales of American products through China’s e-commerce marketplace – an industry valued at over US$3 trillion in 2024.
Barry added China should also complete its purchase of US goods under the phase one trade agreement ratified in early 2020, and negotiation over a phase two deal that removes existing barriers should begin immediately.
“But as of this writing, the tariffs are still on despite reports that they have cost US businesses and consumers US$125 billion … and increasing by US$3 billion each month,” he said.
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