This resource tracked statements, developments, visits, and other interactions in US-Indo-Pacific relations under the President Trump administration. Special focus was given to the comments and activities of President Donald J. Trump; Vice President Mike Pence; United States Trade Representative Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Jr.; former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson; former Secretary of Defense James Mattis; and former Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark Esper.
The Trump Administration & US - Indo-Pacific Relations
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USTR Statement on China’s Auto Tariffs
"U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer today released the following statement regarding China’s tariffs on U.S.-produced automobiles:
'As the President has repeatedly noted, China’s aggressive, State-directed industrial policies are causing severe harm to U.S. workers and manufacturers. We are continuing to raise these issues with China. As of yet, China has not come to the table with proposals for meaningful reform.
'China’s policies are especially egregious with respect to automobile tariffs. Currently, China imposes a tariff of 40 percent on U.S. automobiles. This is more…
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USTR Updates Section 301 Investigation on China
"The Office of the United States Trade Representative today released a report updating information on its Section 301 investigation of China’s acts, policies and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property and innovation.
“We completed this update as part of this Administration’s strengthened monitoring and enforcement effort,” Ambassador Robert Lighthizer said. “This update shows that China has not fundamentally altered its unfair, unreasonable, and market-distorting practices that were the subject of the March 2018 report on our Section 301 investigation.”
To read the report, click here."
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United States Issues WTO Counter Notification Against India’s Market Price Support for Cotton
"U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the United States submitted a counter notification in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Agriculture (COA) on India’s market price support (MPS) for cotton. The United States has been calling for WTO reform to improve the review process of various Committees in the WTO. To continue to improve transparency in the WTO, the United States filed the second U.S. COA notification under the WTO Agreement on Agriculture regarding another country’s…
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Joint Statement by U.S. Trade Representative Robert E. Lighthizer and Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry Ramon M. Lopez
"Following the bilateral meeting between the United States and the Philippines on August 31, 2018 in Singapore, during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economic Ministers Meeting, and recalling the Joint Statement Between the United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines issued on November 13, 2017, U.S. Trade Representative Robert E. Lighthizer and Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry Ramon M. Lopez are pleased to announce several recent achievements resolving bilateral trade issues under their bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (“TIFA”).
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USTR Lighthizer's Announcement on Trade Agreement Negotiations with Japan
"In accordance with section 105(a)(l)(A) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act), and pursuant to authority delegated to me by the President, I am pleased to notify Congress that the President intends to initiate negotiations on a U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement. We will consult closely with Congress in developing our negotiating positions to ensure that they are consistent with Congressional priorities and objectives outlined in section 102 of the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act. We intend…
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Joint Statement on Trilateral Meeting of the Trade Ministers of the United States, Japan, and the European Union
"The Ministers reiterated their concern with and confirmed their shared objective to address non market-oriented policies and practices of third countries that lead to severe overcapacity, create unfair competitive conditions for their workers and businesses, hinder the development and use of innovative technologies, and undermine the proper functioning of international trade, including where existing rules are not effective.
The Ministers recalled that market-oriented conditions are fundamental to a fair, mutually advantageous global trading system and that their citizens and businesses operate under market-oriented conditions. They…
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Statement By U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Section 301 Action
“On June 18, the President directed me to identify $200 billion worth of Chinese goods for additional tariffs at a rate of 10 percent, in response to China’s decision to cause further harm to U.S. workers, farmers, and businesses by imposing retaliatory duties on U.S. goods. I initiated this process on July 10. This week, the President has directed that I consider increasing the proposed level of the additional duty from 10 percent to 25 percent. The 25 percent duty would be applied to the…