• China: "New talks with the US tomorrow". Progress in the tariff negotiations
  • China responds to Trump: new tariffs on 75 billion dollars of US imports, including cars

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December 31, 2019 China and the United States will sign the first phase of a trade agreement on January 15. This was reported by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, on Twitter. "I will sign our large and comprehensive Phase One trade deal with China on January 15," read Trump's tweet.

"The ceremony will take place in the White House. High-level representatives from China will be present. Later I will go to Beijing, where the talks for Phase Two will begin," concludes Trump.

I will be signing our very large and comprehensive Phase One Trade Deal with China on January 15. The ceremony will take place at the White House. High level representatives of China will be present. At a later date I will be going to Beijing where talks will begin on Phase Two!

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

Here are the main stages of the commercial dispute since March 2018, between turbulence and lightenings:

March 8: tax on steel, aluminum
President Trump announces 25% tariffs on steel imports and 10% on aluminum from several countries in an attempt to reduce the huge US trade deficit. In 2017, the deficit reached 566 billion dollars, of which 375 billion dollars with China, the world's largest steel and aluminum producer.

March 22: China's response
On the eve of their application, Trump suspends tariffs for several countries but not for China. Beijing responds with a list of 128 US products on which it is said to impose customs duties of 15-25% if negotiations with Washington fail.

July 6: tensions start again
Despite the relaxing signals, the United States rekindles tensions by putting 25% tariffs on approximately $ 34 billion of Chinese imports including cars, disks and aircraft components. Beijing responds with tariffs of the same size and scope, including on agricultural products, cars and naval products.

August 23: the revival of Trump
Washington decides to impose tariffs on another 16 billion dollars of Chinese goods, exactly the day after the resumption of negotiations. China responds with 25% tariffs on $ 16 billion of American goods, including Harley-Davidson motorcycles, bourbons and orange juice.

December 1: the truce
The US administration suspends the tariff increase from 10 to 25% for three months, which should have been triggered on January 1 for $ 200 billion of Chinese goods. China, for its part, agrees to purchase a "very substantial" amount of US products and suspends additional tariffs for automobiles and auto parts produced in the United States for three months, starting January 1. At the same time it allows imports of American rice.

May 10: resume and hostility, Huawei goal
Washington ends the truce by raising tariffs on Chinese imports of $ 200 billion. Trump opens a new front in the trade war and on May 15 decides to prevent American companies from using foreign telecommunication equipment believed to be a security risk. A move against the Chinese giant Huawei. The U.S. Department of Commerce also announces a ban on U.S. companies selling or transferring US technology to Huawei. On May 20, however, it establishes a 90-day suspension of the ban.

August 1st: new American sanctions
Accusing Beijing of not fulfilling promises to buy US agricultural products and stop the sale of the fentanyl opioid, Trump announces tariffs of 10% on another 300 billion in Chinese goods starting from September 1st. The decision means that virtually all of the $ 660 billion in annual exchanges between the world's two largest economies will be subject to duties. Beijing is threatening countermeasures.

August 5: the currency war
China allows the yuan to drop below 7.0 units against the dollar for the first time in 11 years. Washington accuses Beijing of manipulating its currency to support its exports but the Chinese Central Bank denies it. Chinese state media announce that Beijing has suspended purchases of US agricultural exports.

November 26: final tightening
The US and China are at the "final tightening" on the negotiation: "It is going very well, but at the same time we would like it to go as well in Hong Kong," says Trump, after the main negotiators in Washington and Beijing have heard by phone to give the final touches to Phase 1 of the deal.

December 13: phase one of the agreement reached
The deal suspends the introduction of new tariffs, both by the United States and China, on December 15th. Trump confirms the suspension of duties at 15% on almost 160 billion dollars of products made in China, to which Beijing would have responded with tariffs on 3,300 US products.

December 20: Trump hears XI, "China ready for agreement"
On Twitter Trump assures: "I had a very good conversation with Chinese President Xi about our gigantic trade agreement. China has already begun large-scale purchases of agricultural products and more. The official signature is being organized" of the agreement.