Next Round of China Tariffs One Week Away

The United States’ next round of tariffs on China will go into effect in less than one week, on Sunday, December 15th. “With an annual trade value of approximately $300 billion”, the 15% tariff will be applied to a group of items including “cell phones, laptop computers, video game consoles, certain toys, computer monitors, and certain items of footwear and clothing.”

Trade talks with China have been ongoing, and last week Larry Kudlow, U.S. director of the White House National Economic Council, emphasized that “December 15 is a very important date with respect to a no-go or go on tariffs.” President Trump has reported the two countries “are having very major discussions on December 15th”, but the outcome of the impending tariffs remains uncertain. President Trump has repeatedly claimed “the Chinese want to make a deal” and “discussions are going very well”. Still, Trump says he is “very happy” with how things are, and “if the deal is no good,… [the U.S.] will walk away.”