China

The Trump administration has until Sunday to decide whether to slap tariffs on $160 billion worth of Chinese goods, with a bevy of developments – domestically and with China – complicating that decision and leaving analysts to believe the administration will, at least for now, punt on the tariffs.

GENEVA -- As the U.S. comes under fire for handicapping the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement system, it is charging that members’ non-market policies and practices are the actual threat to the WTO and must be addressed for the “continued vitality” of the organization.

The World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body could complete work on four of 14 pending appeals despite an expected shutdown of the appellate system beginning next week, according to the Dispute Settlement Body chairman, leaving ten cases in limbo.

The Chinese government might soon expedite the publication of an “unreliable entities list” that would restrict designated businesses’ ability to do business in China, according to a report from an official media source that called the potential move a response to a bill the U.S. House is expected to pass this week condemning human-rights violations against Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang province.

The Commerce Department on Tuesday issued proposed regulations that would allow it to block foreign information and communications technology and services from entering the U.S. if the Commerce secretary determines they posed national security risks.

The Foreign Ministry responded to the FCC's move to ban the use of Universal Service Fund money to buy equipment from Huawei and ZTE.

“We shouldn't have to pay farmers to take the edge off of a trade war that shouldn't have been started in the first place,” Buttigieg said.

Commerce is “issuing these narrow licenses to authorize limited and specific activities which do not pose a significant risk to the national security.”

The U.S. on Tuesday knocked China for pulling out of the Global Steel Forum, arguing at the World Trade Organization that the steel overcapacity problem can only be solved if the largest producers -- like China -- take part.