Research & Analysis

The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) is readying measures meant to revitalize US commercial shipbuilding, an industry the White House considers important to economic resilience and national security. The actions will include announcing new tariffs on Chinese-made maritime equipment and charging previously announced port fees on Chinese-linked ships.

President Donald Trump on Monday extended the US-China trade talks deadline until November 10. Existing baseline US tariffs on Chinese imports will remain at 30% (a 10% reciprocal tariff plus a 20% fentanyl tariff).

The administration has signaled that an extension to the August 12 tariff deadline will be announced soon following trade talks between US and Chinese officials in Stockholm last week. President Donald Trump indicated on Tuesday that he was “getting very close to a deal” with China to extend the deadline. USCBC understands that an executive order extending the deadline by 90 days has been drafted.

The US AI Action Plan is a strategic shift from the previous administration’s more restrictive AI Diffusion Rule to promoting the global export and adoption of American AI technology. The plan envisages a future in which the United States leads in developing and deploying AI globally, while restricting access for geopolitical competitors such as China.

Amid rising deflation and falling profits across industries, Beijing is intensifying efforts to rein in “involution-style” competition, or cutthroat price wars that sacrifice product quality and distort market order. At a July 1 Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission meeting, President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to curb disorderly price competition, improve product quality, and phase out outdated production capacity.

Beijing is contemplating how to secure a foothold in the international monetary system as Washington pushes ahead with dollar-linked stablecoins to solidify the greenback’s dominance. Today’s total stablecoin market capitalization is roughly $265 billion, with US dollar-denominated stablecoins accounting for about 99% of the global market.

US and Chinese trade officials met in Stockholm over Monday and Tuesday and discussed extending the August 12 trade deal deadline another 90 days pending President Donald Trump’s approval. The president was due to be briefed on the meetings on Wednesday, but the White House has yet to announce a decision on the extension.

Since China’s creation of a rare earth elements (REEs) export control system on April 4, foreign companies have encountered delays in sourcing REEs and magnets from Chinese suppliers. USCBC conducted a flash survey in mid-July to gauge member companies’ experiences navigating the system.