US delays new tariffs on Chinese electronics

US retailers and global financial markets got an early Christmas present Tuesday as President Donald Trump's administration announced it is delaying tariffs on key consumer electronic goods imported from China.

And news that top US and Chinese trade officials spoke by telephone early Tuesday offered further signs of a possible letup in the trade war that had been escalating in recent weeks.

Trump said that conversation was "very productive," and said he agreed to delay imposing tariffs on some goods to protect consumers going into the holiday shopping season -- even while continuing to insist that Americans are not paying for the tariffs.

The news sent global stock markets surging higher, relieved there might be an agreement that would forestall the feared hit to a world economy already showing signs of strain.

The latest round of tariffs on $300 billion in Chinese goods, due to take effect on September 1, meant all Chinese imports into the United States would be subject to additional duties.

Trump's August 1 tariff announcement prompted immediate outcry from retailers as they prepare for the holiday shopping season.

But the office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) said Tuesday it is delaying until December 15 imposition of new 10 percent tariffs on Chinese-made cell phones, laptops, computer monitors, video game consoles and some toys, footwear and clothing.

"We're doing this for Christmas season just in case some of the tariffs would have an impact on US customers but so far they have had really none," Trump told reporters Tuesday in New Jersey.

An odd assortment of goods will benefit from the reprieve, including baby furniture, diapers and men's suits, as well as frozen fish, cigar holders, sugar beets, pesticides, bedding and school supplies.

In addition, USTR said "certain products are being removed from the tariff list based on health, safety, national security and other factors and will not face additional tariffs of 10 percent."

Products exempted from any new tariffs includes car seats, shipping containers and cranes for ports, as well as Bibles and other religious literature.

"We are certainly relieved that a lot of the items won't see an impact for this holiday season," said Rebecca Mond of The Toy Association.

"We would like to see the threat of tariffs completely removed from over our heads," but the toy industry was "largely spared" by this delay, she told AFP.

Talks by phone

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer spoke with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He early Tuesday and has another call planned in two weeks, a USTR official told AFP. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also participated in the call, officials said.

US and Chinese negotiators met in Shanghai in late July for the first time since talks collapsed in May, and the sides were due to hold another round of meetings in Washington in September.

However, the deterioration in relations in the past two weeks cast doubt on whether the negotiations would take place, and on Friday Trump indicated that the next meeting might not happen, saying Washington was "not ready to make a deal."

Trump accused Beijing of continuing to renege on its commitment to buy US agricultural goods.

"They said they are going to buy farm products. So far they have disappointed me," Trump said. "They haven't been truthful or let's say they certainly delayed the decision."

He acknowledged that Beijing may be aiming to wait until after he leaves office to reach a deal.

Trump has continued to publicly pursue hardline tactics against China, repeatedly excoriating Beijing for backing out of conditions he says were agreed, and manipulating its currency to gain a trade advantage over American firms.

He has justified the harsh measures, saying US consumers are not being affected by the higher tariffs, despite complaints from industry and retailers about rising costs.

But economists say the impact is showing up in data, including in the latest consumer inflation report.

The United States is demanding that China make changes to reduce the US trade deficit. It wants Beijing to open China's economy to more foreign products and foreign companies, reduce subsidies and stop the theft of American technology.