Biden Administration Finds Unfair China Trade Practices

The Biden administration's trade investigation led by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai has concluded that China employs unfair practices to dominate the global maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. The investigation, initiated in April 2024 at the request of U.S. unions, found that China utilizes financial subsidies, barriers for foreign firms, forced technology transfers, and intellectual property theft to gain a competitive edge. Notably, China's share of the global shipbuilding market increased from about 5% in 2000 to over 50% in 2023, while the U.S. share has dropped below 1%. The findings suggest potential policy responses, such as tariffs or port fees on Chinese-built vessels. The report reinforces the Biden administration's tough stance on China's trade practices and could lead to significant trade actions in the near future. Chinese officials have dismissed the complaints as lacking factual basis.