Trump Delays 30% Tariff Hike for 2 Weeks as ‘Gesture of Good Will’ to China

President Donald Trump delayed for two weeks to Oct. 15 hiking to 30 percent the first three rounds of Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods (see 1908290024) “as a gesture of good will,” he tweeted Wednesday. Trump said he did so at the request of Vice Premier Liu He, the lead Chinese trade negotiator, so the tariff increase wouldn’t coincide with China’s 70th anniversary celebration. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative didn’t respond to email queries Thursday about whether it will extend the comments deadline on the proposed tariff increase. Comments are due Sept. 20 in docket USTR-2019-0015.