China Slows Its Progress on U.S. Trade Deal Purchases Amid Talks

(Bloomberg) -- China pulled back on its already halting progress toward meeting its U.S. trade deal targets, slowing purchases of all types of goods covered by the agreement despite calls from the Biden administration for Beijing to adhere to its commitments. 

China bought $9.5 billion worth of manufactured, agricultural and energy goods in October, bringing the total purchases to $210.4 billion since the trade deal was signed in January 2020, according to Bloomberg analysis of official Chinese data. Last month’s procurement was the slowest pace in a year, with China now having reached only 56% of the two-year target of $378.4 billion.

U.S. officials have recently increased their calls for China to abide by the agreement, though it’s unknown what steps it would take in response to Beijing failing to meet its goals. The trade targets expire at the end of next month, although it includes a sentence that both sides expect the increase in purchases to continue in “2022 through 2025.” 

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in September that China isn’t abiding by its commitments and pointed to Beijing preventing the purchase of “tens of billions of dollars” of Boeing Co. planes. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said last month that the administration would work to enforce China’s commitments in the trade deal.  

Tai acknowledged earlier this month that China’s performance “hasn’t been perfect” and officials are working on their next steps.

“So what do we do about it? That’s the million-dollar question,” she said, adding “it’s something we’re working on.”

Tai also said the U.S. is raising concerns with Beijing that go beyond its promised purchases, including about China’s state-centered industrial policies, leaving the future of the trade deal unclear.

A summit last week between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping didn’t provide much clarity on trade either. U.S. officials said the topic of trade and restrictions on technology exports didn’t dominate the conversation. China reiterated calls for the White House to avoid both “over-stretching” the concept of national security in business dealings and politicizing trade issues. 

Read more: Biden Charts Path Forward With Xi Even as Taiwan Tensions Simmer

Note 1: Data shown is based on latest revised data from source. 

Note 2: Monthly services data are not available from China authorities.

Source: China General Administration of Customs

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With assistance from Bloomberg