Similar to Some Southeast Asian Countries
Fentanyl and TikTok Expected to Be Discussed at Summit
A Chinese expert on diplomacy and security has predicted that the United States and China will likely reach a tariff agreement at relatively higher rates compared to other countries.
On August 25, Da Wei, a professor at the Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University, said in an interview with the South China Morning Post (SCMP) in Hong Kong, "I am cautiously optimistic about the possibility of the two countries reaching a tariff agreement," expressing this outlook.
Da Wei, who also serves as the director of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, stated, "We need to have a realistic perspective regarding the tariff levels," and explained, "It is virtually impossible for the United States to conclude a tariff agreement at very low levels, as it has done with Europe, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom."
He predicted, "China and the United States are likely to reach an agreement while maintaining relatively high tariff rates," adding, "Although the exact figures are unknown, the rates will be higher than those of the aforementioned countries and may be similar to some Southeast Asian nations."
Previously, South Korea, Japan, and the European Union set mutual tariff rates at 15% through negotiations with the United States. In contrast, Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam (20%), Indonesia (19%), the Philippines (19%), Thailand (19%), and Cambodia (19%) have higher mutual tariff rates.
He projected that the tariff agreement could be reached around this fall, stating, "A trade agreement will lay the groundwork for a U.S.-China summit," and emphasized, "It will help foster a constructive atmosphere for bilateral relations and mark the beginning of a more stable period."
He also noted that if a summit between the two leaders takes place, a range of issues would be discussed, including not only the trade agreement but also tariffs on fentanyl (a narcotic analgesic) and the ownership of the Chinese video platform TikTok. However, he pointed out that there are problems with the U.S. approach to these issues. Da Wei strongly criticized the approach of the Trump administration, which has made unreasonable demands, stating, "The Trump administration is more interested in projecting a 'tough stance' for political reasons than in finding effective solutions to the fentanyl issue, which is essential for the health of the American people."
He further argued that for China’s perception of the United States to become more positive, the United States must not undermine the 'One China' policy and should lift some of its technology restrictions and export control measures on China.
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