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The next round of tariff hearings are kicking off in Washington this week

Jun 18, 2019
As the list of proposed tariffs grows, so do the number of people wishing to testify, says Lisa Trofe, one of 300 witnesses at public hearings this week.
China Shipping cargo containers at the Port of Oakland in California in 2018.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Canada is in no rush to join a new NAFTA deal

Sep 19, 2018
Even with the U.S. and Mexico reaching an early pact, there are still some issues to iron out before Canada joins in.
Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland speaks with reporters as she arrives for a meeting at the U.S. Trade Representative's office in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 19.
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

Can Congress even approve a U.S.-Mexico trade deal that leaves out Canada?

Aug 28, 2018
Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland was back in Washington on Tuesday, rejoining NAFTA negotiations with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer after weeks on the sidelines. The United States and Mexico have sketched out the beginnings of an agreement, and the question now is whether Canada can be brought into the deal. On Monday, President Donald […]
Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland speaks to the media Aug. 28, 2018 in Washington, DC. Freeland arrived in Washington to rejoin trilateral trade negotiations, after interrupting a trip to France, Germany and Ukraine. 
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

All tariff pain is local

Aug 8, 2018
Another $16 billion of tariffs on imports from China will take effect in a couple weeks — Aug. 23 to be precise. That announcement came from office of the U.S. Trade Representative yesterday. Semiconductors and various plastics are on the list. The reaction from China was swift and predictable in this tit-for-tat thing we’ve got going […]

With NAFTA stalled, U.S. and Mexican officials to meet on trade

Jul 26, 2018
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is scheduled to meet today with Mexico’s economy minister. They’re trying to revive NAFTA negotiations. Mexican officials and President Donald Trump are sounding optimistic. But what, realistically, can be accomplished in these talks? Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

U.S. pauses China tariffs but deal has its shortcomings

May 21, 2018
The reason the United States is pausing tariffs on China for now appears to be a promise from China that it will increase its imports from the U.S. — primarily agricultural and energy products. That would presumably help — at least in the short term — to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with China, which […]