The president of the United States, Donald Trump, took a step back yesterday in his commercial war and announced a 90 -day truce in the application for countries with the highest tariff rates he announced on April 2, but excluded China from it, whose levies have immediately elevated 125%.
The reduction of the tariff punishment will mean that practically all the US business partners, including the European Union (EU), will be penalized as of yesterday and during the next three months only with a “reduced” 10%tariff, the same that began to be applied on April 5 to some countries.
The Republican leader said he had based his decision that more than 75 countries had contacted his administration to negotiate.
Country continues with 10%
Amador Carballido, general director of the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (AGEXPORT), warned that in the form that the change is written, it gives the impression that those countries that were above 10% now lowered the rate and left it in that figure, “and that means that Guatemala, most likely stays at 10%.”
He added that this is a first interpretation. That is, if the writing is slow, it is not clear that there will be a tariff below 10%. What worries Mexico maintain 0% and Guatemala maintains that disadvantage, emphasized the manager.
Asked about whether the message to the country’s private sector gives peace of mind, Carballido indicated that not yet, since they are pending the official publications made from the US authorities to be able to confirm. “What gives us is a good hope that the way to solve is clear.”
They visualize that the US government is not in the ability to absorb those tariffs that imposed on many countries and that would surely have taken it to high inflationary levels.
Joint work
Directors of the National Coffee Association (Anacafé) commented to Press Libre that they were not clear about Trump’s approach.
However, Anacafé executives highlighted that coffee is one of the main export products to the US market and consider that they must continue working together with the government to create strategies that allow Guatemala to be able to return to the tariff scheme reached within the framework of the Free Trade Agreement between the Dominican Republic, Central America and the United States (DR CAFTA).
Along the same lines, Carla Caballeros, executive director of the Agro Chamber (Camagro), commented that, in order to be able to be legal and commercial, it is necessary to wait for the official publication.
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The articulated work between the public and private sector continues, as has been done from the first moment, Knights added by maintaining the application of the sector to the dialogue with the US. UU. It must be raised to the highest political level, to accelerate decisions that allow to exclude Guatemala from that tariff scheme.
“The objective is to restore certainty and free access of tariffs for our products in the short term, otherwise the effects on rural employment would be significant,” he said, referring to the impact of tariffs.
The Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) considered it essential to prioritize and execute the necessary actions in response to the Ustr signs. “We are working closely with the authorities to build solutions that protect Guatemala’s preferential access to the US market and reinforce confidence in our country as a reliable commercial partner,” they said.
Protectionism
The US president wants to protect national industries and promote greater investment in that country.
That is the reason that led him to impose 25% tariffs on mid -March on steel and aluminum imports, a measure that mainly affects Canada, but also Japan, Australia and the EU.
In that category, the 25% tax on cars imports also enters, to encourage companies to re -manufacture in the US.
It also affects Canada and Mexico, but with nuances, because they are only applied to the loose pieces that do not come from that country. Japanese, Korean and European manufacturers, especially Germans, are also in the sights.
Other sectors wait for their turn. Trump has reiterated his desire to impose more taxes on construction wood, pharmaceutical products and semiconductors.
Trump officials boasted that many nations were now willing to negotiate trade agreements.
China, the most punished
Beijing is the main objective of tariffs imposed by Washington since Donald Trump returned to the White House, on January 20.
First it was the additional 10%, then 20% for supposedly not to fight the traffic of substances with which fentanyl occurs, an opioid that causes a serious health crisis in that country.
To reduce the commercial deficit with China, Trump increased the rate by 34% last week.
Beijing responded with a 34% tariff over all American products. Given these reprisals, the US president added 50% more, for an accumulated increase of 104% since Wednesday.
China responded with a new 84%rate, and Trump announced hours later that the surcharge on Chinese products went to 125%.
China recommended “caution” to its citizens traveling to the US., Within the framework of the aggravation of commercial tensions between the two largest economies in the world.