Keeping ‘Harmful’ Tariffs Intact 'Worsens' Retailers’ Plight, Says NRF

The National Retail Federation took a hard line on the Biden administration staying the course on Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports while seeking to reengage Beijing in bilateral trade talks (see 2110040025). U.S. businesses “continue to be severely impacted by the tariffs put into place by the previous administration,” said David French, NRF senior vice president-government relations. “The continuation of these harmful tariffs worsens the challenges thousands of retailers must navigate, especially at a time when many are only beginning to emerge from the serious economic damage they have suffered as a result of the global pandemic,” he said Monday. “It is critical the administration initiate immediate discussions with China so we can level the international playing field and bring an end to the global supply chain disruption.” The U.S. plans to “directly engage with China” to hold Beijing accountable for its phase one trade deal commitments, while keeping the existing tariffs in place but launching a “targeted” new tariff exclusion process, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai told a Center for Strategic and International Studies conference Monday.