Rising tariffs hurt US firms in China, study finds



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On November 9, 2017, President Donald Trump salutes Chinese President Xi Jinping's joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China.

Thomas Peter | Reuters

The latest tariff increase by US President Donald Trump – and Beijing's plans to counter them – hit American companies in China.

According to a report released Wednesday by the US House, nearly three quarters, or 74.9% of the approximately 250 people surveyed in a survey conducted from May 16 to 20, indicated that increases in US and US tariffs Chinese had a negative impact on their activities. trade in Shanghai and the American Chamber of Commerce in China based in Beijing.

"The negative impact of tariffs is clear and undermines the competitiveness of US companies in China," a group statement said.

The Chinese authorities also seem to make the operations more difficult for some companies.

About one in five reported having increased number of inspections and slower clearance. About 14% of respondents said that approval of licenses or other applications had been slower, in addition to other complications related to increased bureaucratic oversight or regulatory control.

Of those surveyed, 61.6% were in the manufacturing sector, 25.5% in the service sector, 3.8% in retail trade and distribution, and 9.6% in the non-manufacturing sector. industries.

The trade dispute between the world's two largest economies seemed to be on the brink of agreement – until those hopes were broken earlier this month.

The United States increased customs duties on Chinese goods worth $ 200 billion, from 10% on May 10 to 25%, against 25% in Beijing. Beijing reacted a few days later with duties ranging from 5% to 25% on $ 60 billion worth of US goods. .

The biggest impact of the combined tariffs is the decline in product demand, followed by rising manufacturing costs, according to the AmCham joint survey. About 35% of the companies surveyed restructure their operations in China to reach the local market by increasing their sources of supply or production, and about a third reported delaying or canceling their investment decisions in the country.

Only 10 percent of respondents said they would seek an exclusion from Chinese tariffs, while 15.1 percent said they would seek US tariff exemptions, the report said. The majority was uncertain or stated that she would not apply.

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