US considers increasing tariff rate on second set of Chinese goods to 25%

HOUSTON (ICIS)–US President Donald Trump’s administration is considering raising the proposed tariff rate on $200bn in Chinese goods to 25% from 10%, US Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer said on Wednesday.

The 25% duty would apply to the list of products the USTR announced on 10 July, which includes a large portion of petrochemicals and other oil products.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC), which has repeatedly urged the Trump administration not to engage in a trade war, said the proposed increase would be devastating for US chemical manufacturers.

“Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular are at risk of being put out of businesses by a cost-increase of that kind,” ACC president Cal Dooley said. “We implore the President to let this be the final provocation and negotiate with China to bring an end to this trade war.”

The first round of US tariffs on $34bn on Chinese goods began on 6 July. China responded with proportional tariffs on US goods.

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