However, just today, at three in the morning of Beijing time, the US official issued a strange notice to American companies...
According to a number of Western media reports such as Reuters: Just a few hours after the United States launched a trade war against China, the US Trade Representative Office announced at 3 am today, that those imported from China will be affected by the trade war. U.S. companies can apply to the U.S. government for a one-year 'tariff exemption' for 90 days.
▲The picture shows the report of the US media
In an official statement, the US Trade Representative Office stated that the relevant companies can continue to apply for exemptions within 14 days of the application. If there are opponents, they can raise their objections for an additional 7 days.
After that, the US Trade Representative Office will choose whether the product has an alternative source of supply outside of China, 'whether the tariff will seriously damage the US company or the US interest of the application', and whether the product is for China. Relevant industrial plans have important strategic implications – such as 'Made in China 2025'' to determine whether to give an 'exemption'.
In addition, the US Trade Representative Office also stated that because this 'tariff exemption' is based on the product, once a product is exempted, all US companies that import the product will not be subject to additional tariffs, regardless of these companies. Whether it has submitted an application itself.
▲The picture shows the notice on the official website of the US Trade Representative Office.
But this trade war has just begun. The US Trade Representative Office has started to open a 'back door' to American companies importing Chinese products, allowing them to apply for 'tariff exemptions'.
This may be related to another incident mentioned by the US "Washington Post". Many of the Chinese products that the United States launched this trade war against China are not actually produced by China’s own enterprises, but by the United States. Or other Western countries' branches in China.
In the words of the Washington Post, it is: 'Because Trump’s trade officials’ missteps, these sanctions tariffs will not hit many Chinese companies. Instead, they will take the US and other non-Chinese multinational companies’ branches in China. When made a hit object'.
▲The picture is the original part of the Washington Post.
The Washington Post also said that the conclusion was made by the famous American think tank 'Peterson International Economic Research Institute'. Mr. Zhizhi also consulted the relevant report of the institute and found that his researchers found through detailed analysis. The Trump administration’s trade war against China is mainly not hurting China’s own business, but the Chinese branch owned by the United States and its allies.
▲The picture shows the analysis and report of the 'Peterson International Economic Research Institute'
From this point of view, the notice of this 'tariff exemption' issued by the US official in the early hours of this morning may be used to remedy the embarrassing situation of 'sending a rock and licking its own feet'.
This not only shows that Trump’s trade war is extremely rushed, blind and lack of consideration, but also proves that in today’s globalization, there will be no winner in the trade war, and the final outcome will only be a double loss or even a loss. Lose more.
But the Chinese don't be too optimistic about the trade war because they saw this news. After all, from the past, Trump will not easily make concessions in the trade war against China, and the United States is also very resilient in dealing with China. So, we still have to be prepared for a protracted war. If we hurt, they will have real concessions.