U.S. Senate quietly votes to cut tariffs on hundreds of Chinese goods

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters



JULY 26, 2018 / 7:16 PM / UPDATED 25 MINUTES AGO


Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As trade tensions escalate between Washington and Beijing, the U.S. Senate quietly passed legislation on Thursday that would lower trade barriers on hundreds of items made in China.

With no debate, the Senate unanimously passed a bill that would cut or eliminate tariffs on toasters, chemicals and roughly 1,660 other items made outside the United States. Nearly half of those items are produced in China, according to a Reuters analysis of government records.

The United States and China, the world’s two largest economies, are increasingly at loggerheads over trade.

-snip-

The White House has not publicly taken a position on the so-called miscellaneous tariff bill, which has now passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives unanimously. The two chambers need to resolve minor differences before they can send the legislation to Trump to sign into law.



Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-trade/u-s-senate-quietly-votes-to-cut-tariffs-on-hundreds-of-chinese-goods-idUSKBN1KG35R

[blueinredohio]

1. If they're going to do this unanimously why don't they call Trump out unanimously on tariffs?

Why are they so afraid of making him mad?

[karynnj]

9. That it was unanimous and quiet suggests to me that the Trump administration tacitly

asked for it or at least signed off on it. The fact that there is little press means Trump can still claim as he did this morning that his wonderful trade deals - made bilaterally with each country (ignore that they have not happened) are fuelly the best economy EVER. I would guess that this will get little press and he will quietly sign it.

[cstanleytech]

13. Doesn't Trump still have to sign it? If so then I wonder how he will try to spin it. nt

[karynnj]

15. Good question

Though consistency is not what he is known for, this would seem to be at great variance with his words. He might sign claiming that the numbers are such that vetoing would just lead to Congress overriding his veto -- and that THAT would be a troubling vote for many Republicans. Then again - I vote - he signs, the WH puts out a generic statement that this was a victory and his other actions made this possible. Remember - he doesn't have to make sense, not political sense, economic sense or any sense at all.

[quaker bill]

16. He could veto it

then the house and senate would over ride and it would become law.

[cstanleytech]

17. Yes, I am aware of what happens if he vetoes something I am just not sure if he has to sign this

or if its something Congress can do without getting his approval.

[Cold War Spook]

20. He won't sign it

and 10 days later it becomes law. 10 days later, and his followers won't remember anything about the bill.

[MarcA]

14. That sounds like a reasonable analysis. n/t

[yallerdawg]

2. If this was serious...

they wouldn't have done it as Congress just checked out for 5 weeks.

See you in September?

[keithbvadu2]

3. Donald would sign a bill that goes against his policies?

Donald would sign a bill that goes against his policies?

A bill passed by his own disloyal fellow republicans?

[NewJeffCT]

6. they won't be in town for 5 weeks

he can do the pocket veto - let it sit for 10 days, and then when it gets sent back to Congress, nobody is there to sign it in as law.

[Lonestarblue]

4. Congress is finally serving as some sort of check on Trump?

Unbelievable! Republicans must be more concerned about the midterms, so they’re hedging their bets by passing legislation on tariffs. Trump will probably sign it and claim it was his idea so he can brag that his trade war has produced fantastic results and more free trade. His followers will believe anything.

[elmac]

5. well, they are only concerned about their corporate masters

and wall street banksters.

[TomCADem]

7. Wait? Bernie Did Not Vote Against This?

He was totally in lock step with Trump in terms of demanding a trade war with China, tearing up NAFTA, raising tariffs on steel, etc. This can’t be right.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. The WALTONS have spoken!

Long Live the Waltons!!!111!!!!!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. Yup, toasters for Walmart. . . . nt

[BumRushDaShow]

11. And probably a shitload of other small appliances

From the OP link -

Among the beneficiaries are companies that have moved production offshore.

Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co (HBB.N), for example, would pay reduced tariffs on Chinese-made toaster ovens, steam irons and other household appliances it used to make domestically.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-trade/u-s-senate-quietly-votes-to-cut-tariffs-on-hundreds-of-chinese-goods-idUSKBN1KG35R

I expect the above (which would also apply to their sibling Proctor-Silex) also includes microwaves, blenders, mixers, coffee makers, slow cookers, food processors, hot pots, etc. Part of Walmart's (and Amazon's, Target's, K-Mart's) bread and butter.

[peekaloo]

21. steam irons!

for the on-the-go Dictator with no time to remove his pants.

[BumRushDaShow]

22. But he has

no Hope Hicks to do the pressing anymore!!111!!!1

[Shipwack]

12. I wonder if the "Trump 2020" flags are part of this deal? nt

[SeattleVet]

18. I really want to see the full list of products and items.

I'd be floored if it didn't include clothing and accessories, so he could keep manufacturing all his tRump-Crap at the lowest possible cost to himself.

[elias7]

19. It's only quiet is the press keeps it quiet

Is this not a big story?

[Maxheader]

23. Aren't tariffs many times put in place

to safeguard the country's businesses? You have appliance mfgs.
in americu that might benefit by not having to cost compete with
china products...My point, it may be removing these tariffs is
part of a 'deal' to pull away from all the other tariffs cheetox is
wanting to impose...What? 500 billion worth? China says you
remove your tariffs and we might do the same..