Supply Chain Research

The Chinese government is cutting export tariffs on copper and aluminum products, among others, as part of its annual updates. Reductions on copper products only partly address WTO complaints brought by the U.S. and EU. In any event the $2.6 billion of exports over the past year had already expanded by 34%, Panjiva data shows. Exports of aluminum product categories, where trade investigations are already starting, totalled $9.2 billion over the same period, but fell 12%. The tariff cuts may be more about boosting economic growth than settling trade disagreements.