US President Donald Trump wants to put pressure on China in the trade dispute with new funding. The US government announced in Washington its intention to terminate a 144-year-old United Nations international postal agreement.
The New York Times, previously citing government sources, said the move was directed primarily at Chinese companies flooding the US market with exports.
According to Trump's government, the agreement is unfair to businesses and consumers in the US and costs US $ 300 million annually.
Originally dating from 1874 and comprising a total of 192 states, the ruling was adjusted in 1969, according to the New York Times report, so that poor and developing countries - including China - are much better off than more affluent countries in Europe and North America. However, this has led to the US market being flooded with cheap consumer goods from China.
USA want better conditions
The agreement would allow traders from China and certain other countries to send parcels weighing up to two kilograms to the United States at greatly reduced shipping rates and undercut their competitors there, the criticism goes.
"This system leads to higher shipping costs for American exporters," said a government official in a conference call. This is a pity for the US economy. However, the US will not exit directly from the agreement. With the declaration of intent, only a one-year process starts in which representatives of the Trump government want to negotiate better conditions for the US.
An opinion of the Universal Postal Union was initially not available. The administration of President Trump has repeatedly dissociated himself from international organizations and treaties that they believe harm the US.