The U.S. Trade Representative Office announced on the 22nd that with the approval of President Trump, the United States will take a four-year and a three-year global safeguards on imported photovoltaic products and large washing machines respectively.
The U.S. media reported that it was the first major trade move to take in 2018 following the Trump team's announcement that it would take tough measures against U.S. trade partners.
According to the Xinhua News Agency, the United States will set a 2.5 GW tariff-free quota for photovoltaic cells and components, a 30% tariff for imported products exceeding this quota for the first year, and a tax rate of 25% for the next three years. 20%, 15% According to Bloomberg's summary of ITC's statistics, the largest source of PV products in the United States is Malaysia with a share of 36%. Products from China account for 8% of total imports.
In the washing machine, the first year will be the first 1.2 million imported large washing machines levied 20% tariffs, the tax rate in the second and third years decreased to 18% and 16%; for more than this amount of imported washing machines, the first year A 50% tariff will be levied and the tax rate will be reduced to 45% and 40% in the second and third years respectively.
From the American media analysis Said South Korea and Mexico will suffer the most from tariffs on washing machines, with both countries exporting large numbers of washing machines to the United States, most of which are products of South Korean giants Samsung and LG, which are expected to hit the hardest hit.
It is learned that Kim Hyun-seng, Minister of Trade Negotiations for Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, said on the 23rd that the government will appeal to the World Trade Organization about the U.S. government's emergency import restrictions on imported solar cells, modules and washing machines.
According to the Yonhap news agency, Kim Hyun-joong said that the South Korean government will actively respond to trade protectionism so as to safeguard national interests and actively exercise the rights set forth in the WTO-related agreements according to the concept. Kim Hyun-joong, formerly a judge of the WTO's Permanent Appeal Agency, In-service experience, South Korea is expected to win.
Reported that Kim Hyun-joong said the government will also immediately request the United States to consult on the issue of compensation, such as the United States does not provide the corresponding compensation, will consider stopping the tariff concessions on U.S. products.
China's Ministry of Commerce responded: US abuse of trade remedies strongly dissatisfied
According to the website of the Ministry of Commerce, Wang Hejun, director of the Bureau of Trade Relief Investigation of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, on the 23rd made a statement on the U.S. announcement of global safeguards for photovoltaic products and large washing machines.
Wang Hejun pointed out that in recent years, the United States has taken continuous trade remedy measures against imported photovoltaic products and large washing machines and has fully or even overly protected related industries in the United States. The U.S. side again launched a global safeguard investigation on imported photovoltaic products and large washing machines and adopted a strict Harsh tax measures are an abuse of trade remedies, and China expresses its strong dissatisfaction.
Wang Hejun said that the U.S. investigation not only aroused the concern of many trading partners but also met with strong opposition from many local governments and downstream enterprises in the United States. The United States, in its lone manner, once again imposed restrictions on the import of photovoltaic products and large washing machines, not only detrimental to the United States The healthy development of the industry as a whole also further aggravated the global trade environment of related products.
Wang Hejun emphasized that the current foundation of international economic recovery is still very fragile and requires the concerted efforts and actions of all countries. Excessive and frequent trade protection can not only serve as a relief to related industries but also undermine the balanced development of the economy. China hopes that the United States will exercise restraint in restraint The use of trade restrictions and compliance with multilateral trade rules have played a positive role in promoting the development of world economy. With regard to the erroneous practice of the United States, China will, together with other WTO members, firmly defend its own legitimate interests.