Trump vows action on unfair trade practices abroad

February 22, 2018

Washington- US President Donald Trump expressed his strong determination on Wednesday to take tough action against unfair trade practices in foreign countries.

Pushing to make international trade fair and reciprocal, Trump said in his annual Economic Report of the President that imposing tariffs is "one way to equalize" trade imbalances.

"We will hold accountable any country that engages in unfair trade practices through tough and focused action," he said.

Trump complained that the United States "faces higher barriers on its exports in markets abroad than producers abroad face on their exports to the United States."

Countries like China "violate market principles and distort the functioning of global markets," he said.

Trump reiterated his strong concerns about what he sees as "the overall lack of access to Japan's automotive market for US automotive companies."

"A variety of non-tariff barriers impede access to Japan's automotive market, and overall sales of U.S.-made vehicles and automotive parts in Japan remain low," he said.

On Friday, the US Commerce Department said that it has recommended Trump impose restrictions of US imports of steel and aluminum for national security reasons. Jiji Press