U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin traveled to Shanghai for July 30 and 31 talks on a comprehensive U.S.-China trade deal, the White House said July 30. Vice Premier Liu He and Commerce Minister Zhong Shan led the Chinese delegation, it said. “The two sides discussed topics such as forced technology transfer, intellectual property rights, services, non-tariff barriers, and agriculture.” The Chinese “confirmed their commitment to increase purchases” of U.S. agricultural exports, it said. “The meetings were constructive, and we expect negotiations on an enforceable trade deal to continue” in Washington in early September, it said. The Shanghai meetings were the 12th round of negotiations that started in December, and were the first face-to-face talks between the sides since the negotiations broke down in May over Trump administration allegations that the Chinese reneged on previously agreed-to commitments. Overhanging the talks is the threat that the administration could put the List 4 Section 301 tariffs into effect at any time on virtually all Chinese goods not previously dutied.

China is unlikely to reach agreement with U.S. trade negotiators, President Donald Trump said, as it prefers to wait and see if the next president takes a different approach. He was speaking to reporters at a press conference July 26 announcing an asylum policy with Guatemala. "I think China would probably say, 'Let’s wait. Let’s wait. Maybe Trump will lose and we can deal with another dope or another stiff,' like the people that allowed these deals to happen, this horrible thing to happen to our country," he said, according to a transcript released by the White House. Trump said that after he wins a second term, China and other countries "almost immediately" are going to sign "phenomenal deals."

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, laid out sweeping changes to U.S. trade policy she'd like to see, touching on fast track, free trade agreement negotiating principles, labor enforcement, tariff sunsets and a border carbon adjustment tax. Warren, who published her trade agenda July 29, said the current trade policy is dictated by multinational corporations. "Those big corporations have gotten rich but everyone else has paid the price," she wrote.

President Donald Trump, who had threatened a tariff on Guatemalan goods (see 1907230024), told reporters at the White House that Guatemala had agreed to let foreigners who are seeking asylum in the U.S. apply for that protection from Guatemala. The deal would cover Hondurans, Cubans, Africans -- anyone who is traveling through Guatemala on their way to the southern border of the U.S. If migrants do not apply in Guatemala, but try to apply when they reach the U.S., they would automatically be denied refuge.

President Donald Trump appeared to put the kibosh on Apple’s requests for List 3 Section 301 tariff exclusions on Chinese imports of graphics processing modules, power supplies, heat sinks and a dozen other types of components for the Mac Pro desktop due this fall. Tweeted Trump on July 26: “Apple will not be given Tariff waiver, or relief, for Mac Pro parts that are made in China. Make them in the USA, no Tariffs!” There are “no other sources” outside China “for this proprietary, Apple-designed component,” Apple said in each of the 15 product exclusion requests it filed July 18, as searchable on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative public docket. “This product is a component of a consumer electronic device,” Apple said. “It is not strategically important or related to ‘Made in China 2025' or other Chinese industrial programs.” Public responses in support or opposition to the exclusion requests are due Aug. 1, and Apple had few backers among those who weighed in with an opinion as of July 26. “The USTR should not set a harmful precedent of exempting companies from tariffs that move jobs to an overt adversary of the United States,” commented Gregory Lewandowski on Apple’s request for tariff exclusions on Mac Pro graphics processing modules. “This is absolute garbage,” commented Logan Marotz. “We cannot continue to bend to the will of these companies. They knew the possible consequences of their actions by moving their assembly factories over seas. Tough luck, but this is the game they play.” Apple didn’t comment, nor did USTR.

President Donald Trump tweeted in the morning July 26 that the U.S. would "announce a substantial reciprocal action on Macron’s foolishness shortly. I’ve always said American wine is better than French wine!" Trump, who was angry about the digital services tax France put on what he called "our great American technologies companies," reportedly does not drink alcohol. Later in the day, a White House spokesman issued a statement that said: “The United States is extremely disappointed by France’s decision to adopt a digital services tax at the expense of U.S. companies and workers. France’s unilateral measure appears to target innovative U.S. technology firms that provide services in distinct sectors of the economy. It also demonstrates France’s lack of commitment to the ongoing [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)] negotiations. The Trump Administration has consistently stated that it will not sit idly by and tolerate discrimination against U.S.-based firms. The U.S. Trade Representative has already launched a Section 301 investigation into France’s digital services tax, and the Administration is looking closely at all other policy tools.” Wine was already on the proposed tariff list to compensate for Airbus subsidies (see 1904090031).

President Donald Trump on July 26 directed the U.S. trade representative to seek changes at the World Trade Organization that would prevent rich countries from claiming benefits reserved for developing countries in WTO agreements.

President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters as he signed a bill sending more money for migrant housing, said tariffs on Mexico are now off the table. When a reporter asked if his original idea was to reassess whether Mexico was doing enough before deciding if the tariff threat was no longer needed, Trump said, "yeah, if they don't do it," the tariff could come into play, but he immediately added: "They're doing a good job. Right now, they're doing a very good job. We're very happy with the job they're doing." Trump said the added enforcement at the Guatemala-Mexico border and the U.S.-Mexico border on the Mexican side is cutting the numbers of Central American migrants way down, and that makes Mexicans happy as well.

President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters over the weekend, said tariffs are "obviously doing very well because we’re taking in billions and billions of dollars from China. We would be from others, and we might be from others, but billions of dollars are coming in from China. And, frankly, look at what’s happening with the stock market, which is pretty much what I’ve been saying.

"Also, an article came out this morning that the tariffs are having very little effect on costs going up -- and, in some cases, no effect. That the countries that the products come from, they are bearing the costs, which is also what I’ve said."

President Donald Trump, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by his side, expressed optimism that the House of Representatives would approve the new NAFTA, and also implied that there will be no more national security tariffs levied on either neighbor. He said Mexico's president has "substantially slowed down" migration across Mexican territory. "It's already had a big impact," he said.