Trump Directs USTR to Weigh Hiking 3rd Round of Tariffs to 25% From 10%

President Donald Trump directed U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to consider raising the third round of Trade Act Section 301 tariffs to 25 percent from 10 percent, the USTR and others confirmed Wednesday afternoon.

That prompted the USTR to extend to Aug. 13 the deadline for filing requests to speak at four days of hearings still scheduled to begin Aug. 20. USTR also extended by six days to Sept. 5 the deadline for filing post-hearing rebuttal comments.

The potential increase is because the tariffs haven't led China to overhaul allegedly unfair intellectual property practices. The Chinese embassy in Washington didn't comment right away.

“The Trump Administration continues to urge China to stop its unfair practices," said Lighthizer. "Regrettably, instead of changing its harmful behavior, China has illegally retaliated." Potentially boosting the duty rate would give the U.S. administration "additional options to encourage China to change its harmful policies and behavior and adopt policies that will lead to fairer markets and prosperity for all of our citizens," he added.