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China Cuts Tariffs on $75 Billion in U.S. Goods. That Was the Easy Part. China Cuts Tariffs on $75 Billion in U.S. Goods. That Was the Easy Part.
(10 days later)
HONG KONG — China said on Thursday that it would reduce tariffs on $75 billion worth of American-made goods, a step that signals its intention to hold up its end of a trade truce with President Trump despite the coronavirus crisis unfolding largely within its borders.HONG KONG — China said on Thursday that it would reduce tariffs on $75 billion worth of American-made goods, a step that signals its intention to hold up its end of a trade truce with President Trump despite the coronavirus crisis unfolding largely within its borders.
That truce most likely will not last long, however, if China does not carry through with the part of the deal Mr. Trump prizes most: a promise to buy about $200 billion in goods from the United States over the next two years.That truce most likely will not last long, however, if China does not carry through with the part of the deal Mr. Trump prizes most: a promise to buy about $200 billion in goods from the United States over the next two years.
The move announced on Thursday was widely expected as both sides back down from an increasingly punishing trade war. In January, the two governments reached an interim trade pact intended to forestall more tariff increases. The deal represented a freeze on the trade war rather than an end, and the countries have pledged to continue talks.The move announced on Thursday was widely expected as both sides back down from an increasingly punishing trade war. In January, the two governments reached an interim trade pact intended to forestall more tariff increases. The deal represented a freeze on the trade war rather than an end, and the countries have pledged to continue talks.
The United States agreed to reduce tariffs on $120 billion worth of Chinese-made goods as part of that deal, and on Thursday, China reciprocated. China’s Ministry of Finance said it would essentially halve tariffs it placed in September on American cars, crude oil, soybeans and other goods. The tariff cuts would go into effect on Feb. 14.The United States agreed to reduce tariffs on $120 billion worth of Chinese-made goods as part of that deal, and on Thursday, China reciprocated. China’s Ministry of Finance said it would essentially halve tariffs it placed in September on American cars, crude oil, soybeans and other goods. The tariff cuts would go into effect on Feb. 14.
Chinese officials said they still hoped to eventually eliminate tariffs enacted by both sides. The trade truce left in place most of the new and increased tariffs on $360 billion in Chinese-made goods that Mr. Trump began enacting in 2018, setting off the trade war between the two economic heavyweights.Chinese officials said they still hoped to eventually eliminate tariffs enacted by both sides. The trade truce left in place most of the new and increased tariffs on $360 billion in Chinese-made goods that Mr. Trump began enacting in 2018, setting off the trade war between the two economic heavyweights.
“The next step of the adjustment depends mainly on the development and changes of the Sino-U.S. economic and trade situation,” the ministry said in a statement. “We hope to work with the United States toward the ultimate elimination of all imposed tariffs.”“The next step of the adjustment depends mainly on the development and changes of the Sino-U.S. economic and trade situation,” the ministry said in a statement. “We hope to work with the United States toward the ultimate elimination of all imposed tariffs.”
Before that next step can happen, China may need to prove to the United States that it plans to buy that $200 billion in goods that it promised in January. That could be difficult for Beijing, which is grappling with one of its biggest challenges of the modern era.Before that next step can happen, China may need to prove to the United States that it plans to buy that $200 billion in goods that it promised in January. That could be difficult for Beijing, which is grappling with one of its biggest challenges of the modern era.
Chinese officials have put major portions of the country on lockdown as they try to contain the coronavirus, which has killed hundreds of people and sickened thousands more. Factories and companies across the country have temporarily closed. Major airlines have canceled flights to China.Chinese officials have put major portions of the country on lockdown as they try to contain the coronavirus, which has killed hundreds of people and sickened thousands more. Factories and companies across the country have temporarily closed. Major airlines have canceled flights to China.
The outbreak and containment threaten to reduce China’s economic growth, which could blunt its appetite for American-made goods, meat and crops. They also present logistical problems. Many government offices that do not supply essential or emergency services have been closed, while travel within the country has become difficult as the authorities set up checkpoints and limit travel.The outbreak and containment threaten to reduce China’s economic growth, which could blunt its appetite for American-made goods, meat and crops. They also present logistical problems. Many government offices that do not supply essential or emergency services have been closed, while travel within the country has become difficult as the authorities set up checkpoints and limit travel.
In a research note on Wednesday, Fitch Ratings, the ratings firm, said the country’s economic growth in the January-to-March period could fall by nearly half from a year ago, to 3 percent, if the epidemic is not contained before spring.In a research note on Wednesday, Fitch Ratings, the ratings firm, said the country’s economic growth in the January-to-March period could fall by nearly half from a year ago, to 3 percent, if the epidemic is not contained before spring.
Updated July 7, 2020
The coronavirus can stay aloft for hours in tiny droplets in stagnant air, infecting people as they inhale, mounting scientific evidence suggests. This risk is highest in crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation, and may help explain super-spreading events reported in meatpacking plants, churches and restaurants. It’s unclear how often the virus is spread via these tiny droplets, or aerosols, compared with larger droplets that are expelled when a sick person coughs or sneezes, or transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces, said Linsey Marr, an aerosol expert at Virginia Tech. Aerosols are released even when a person without symptoms exhales, talks or sings, according to Dr. Marr and more than 200 other experts, who have outlined the evidence in an open letter to the World Health Organization.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
The price of oil has fallen in anticipation of lower Chinese demand. China has signaled that it would allow firms to claim force majeure — essentially, recognition that a company cannot meet its obligations because of circumstances beyond its control — for reasons related to the outbreak.The price of oil has fallen in anticipation of lower Chinese demand. China has signaled that it would allow firms to claim force majeure — essentially, recognition that a company cannot meet its obligations because of circumstances beyond its control — for reasons related to the outbreak.
Still, the coronavirus gives China new reasons to hold up its end of the bargain. The trade pact commits China to buying $32 billion in American agricultural products over two years. That food could come in handy: Chinese officials have rushed to ensure adequate food supplies and keep grocery bills low despite the containment efforts.Still, the coronavirus gives China new reasons to hold up its end of the bargain. The trade pact commits China to buying $32 billion in American agricultural products over two years. That food could come in handy: Chinese officials have rushed to ensure adequate food supplies and keep grocery bills low despite the containment efforts.
Cao Li contributed research.Cao Li contributed research.