Asia

“As we have reflected the U.S. concerns in the auto sector in the revised KORUS FTA, we will put utmost efforts to get relief from the U.S. auto tariffs based on the agreement.”

U.S. agriculture groups say they would be satisfied if a U.S.-Japan trade deal offers them the same levels of market access as those negotiated in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a line that Tokyo has laid down for the negotiations.

Taiwan this week stepped up its purchases of U.S. soybeans, which have been hit by Chinese retaliatory tariffs, as the head of a major business group pressed for a bilateral trade agreement between the U.S. and Taipei, contending that it was an opportune time.

The U.S. and Japan have agreed to begin negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement, the two countries announced in a joint statement on Wednesday.

A senior administration official said China’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports are part of a “whole of government approach” to interfere in the U.S. political system.

“I start from the proposition that we know for sure this idea of these endless dialogues, because very smart people tried them for 17 years and failed miserably – it got literally worse.”

China has issued a 71-page white paper condemning U.S. characterizations of its trade policies while accusing the U.S. of being hypocritical because Washington imposes its own set of policies that discriminate against Chinese goods.

“We’ll just have to let the exchanges take their course.”