What Happened: Maria C. Zieba, Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), recently participated in a “pop-up briefing” hosted by the Washington International Trade Association (WITA). The discussion focused on the Biden administration’s review of Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods, which were initially imposed by the Trump administration in 2018 due to China’s forced transfers of U.S. technology and intellectual property.
Zieba, who also serves on WITA’s board of directors, joined other association executives to discuss the 301 review’s findings and its implications for various sectors of the U.S. economy, including the pork industry. The panel addressed how these tariffs have affected trade relations between the United States and China.
Background: Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974 empowers the president to take action, including imposing tariffs, in response to foreign policies that violate international trade agreements or are deemed unjustified, unreasonable, or discriminatory, and that burden U.S. commerce. These sanctions are subject to review every four years to assess their effectiveness and necessity.
The Biden administration’s review concluded that the tariffs on Chinese goods should remain in place, with some duties increased and new tariffs introduced on certain products. The review noted “small negative effects” on the U.S. economy, primarily due to retaliatory tariffs from China on U.S. goods, including pork.
Why It Matters: WITA is a prominent non-profit, non-partisan organization that provides a neutral platform in Washington, D.C., for the discussion of international trade and economic issues. Its members include leaders in business, law, academia, non-governmental organizations, embassies, and the U.S. government. Through events like this briefing, WITA educates policymakers and the public on critical international trade and economic policy issues.
This panel is particularly relevant for the pork industry, as the ongoing tariffs and retaliatory measures continue to impact pork producers and their access to international markets.
