China markets have taken a hit ahead of the Friday deadline, with the benchmark Shanghai composite last week falling into bear market territory, referring to a drop of at least 20% from recent highs.
The United States is due to impose the tariffs on US$34 billion worth of Chinese goods on July 6. China's customs department informed markets on Thursday that China's retaliatory tariffs on US goods will take effect immediately after US tariffs on Chinese imports kick in. The Trump administration has levied a 25% tariff on $34 billion in Chinese goods, while the Chinese government has retaliated by announcing tariffs on the same value of U.S. goods.
Trump administration initially threatened to hit China with 25% tariffs on a list of goods worth $50 billion annually, over what Washington says is the rampant theft of US technical know-how. But the list was pared down to 818 product categories worth more than $32 billion after US companies requested exemptions for key imports. A second tranche of 284 goods valued at $16 billion -- which would bring the total to $50 billion -- will be targeted after they undergo an additional process of review and public comment, which could lead to a lower total. The tariffs hit a broad spectrum of Chinese goods -- like passenger vehicles, radio transmitters, aircraft parts and computer hard drives -- from industries the Trump administration says have benefited from unfair trade practices.
Beijing will hit back with tariffs initially on nearly $30 billion in US goods, also taking effect Friday, including vehicles and many agricultural and food products, such as soybeans, which will hit US farmers hard. The remaining $15 billion would be imposed in the second phase would target crude oil, propane and chemicals. Added to the tariffs are the increased scrutiny on Chinese investments in the United States, which the government says are sensitive for economic or national security reasons, which already has reduced incoming investment.
CORPORATE NEWS: Aluminum Corp. of China, or Chinalco, has told its rare earth unit in southwestern China's Guangxi region to suspend operations after inspectors found the company breached environmental rules. A meeting of Chinalco's leadership team Monday morning ordered the Guangxi unit to swiftly rectify the problems identified and discipline those responsible, while calling on more than 600 of Chinalco's subsidiaries to step up their environmental compliance, according to a company statement. Chinese media reported earlier Monday that Guangxi Rare Earth, a unit of Chinalco Rare Earth & Metals Co. that is pursuing an initial public offering in Shanghai, had been contaminating water sources. Inspectors also found it had been carrying out mining activities outside of its permitted areas, with 24 complaints made about the firm by members of the public in Guangxi, the reports said.
ECONOMIC NEWS: Growth in China's services sector accelerated in June to a four-month high, buoyed by a pickup in new businesses and a sustained increase in employment, a private survey showed yesterday. For June, the Caixin/Markit services purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 53.9, the highest in four months, from May's 52.9. This indicated accelerating expansion, albeit softer than historical trends. The 50-mark separates growth from contraction. The findings were largely in line with those of an official gauge of the non-manufacturing sector released Saturday, which showed the services PMI rising slightly in June. China is banking on a stronger services sector to offset a smaller contribution from heavy industry and fixed asset investment as policymakers extend a multi-year campaign to crack down on risks, and look to emphasize more sustainable economic growth. A solid services sector is also important for generating jobs as factories become more automated and the government aims to stop industrial overcapacity. The services sector already accounts for more than half of China's economy, with rising wages giving its consumers more spending power at home and abroad. The employment sub-index in yesterday's Caixin PMI rose to 51.7 in June, the highest in 10 months, while growth in new business also picked up modestly from May. Caixin's composite PMI covering both the manufacturing and services sectors showed a similar pattern of stronger growth, also rising to a four-month high in June, at 53.0, from the previous month's 52.3.
CURRENCY NEWS: The Chinese yuan was down against the dollar on Thursday, despite the People's Bank of China fixed stronger mid-point rate, as a targeted cut of reserve requirements for banks took effect and amid heightened China-U.S. trade tensions. The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 415 basis points to 6.6180 against the U.S. dollar Thursday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.
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