Latest news with #WayneWinegarden
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New Study: Medicare's Price Controls Are Fueling America's Growing Doctor Shortage
SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - The Pacific Research Institute's Center for Medical Economics and Innovation today released a new issue brief warning that continued federal underpayment of doctors is fueling a looming healthcare crisis by accelerating the nation's physician shortage and undermining access to care. Written by PRI senior fellow in business and economics and CMEI director Dr. Wayne Winegarden, the brief (titled "It's Time for Medicare to Stop Shortchanging Physicians") finds that Medicare reimbursement rates are well below market value and have failed to keep up with inflation or the rising costs of running a medical practice. This undercompensating is leading doctors to leave the profession, dissuading medical students from entering the field, and contributing to longer wait times and diminished care quality for patients. "Medicare has effectively imposed income controls on doctors," said Winegarden. "These unsustainably low reimbursement rates are creating a cascade of negative outcomes—discouraging private practice, worsening the doctor shortage, and ultimately threatening the quality-of-care patients receive." Key findings from the brief include: Inflation-Adjusted Physician Pay Has Plummeted: Since 2001, inflation-adjusted Medicare payments to physicians have declined by 33%. Physician Shortages Are Growing: The U.S. currently faces a shortage of 37,000 doctors—a number projected to rise to 86,000 by 2036. Reimbursement Gaps Distort the Market: Medicare pays hospitals more than independent doctors for the same services, incentivizing costly consolidation and reducing patient choice. Medical School Applications Are Falling: Applications declined for a third straight year in 2024 and are now at their lowest level since 2017. "Patients are paying the price for Washington's broken physician payment system," said Winegarden. "We must modernize Medicare to reward value, preserve choice, and support the financial viability of independent physicians." The brief offers both long-term and short-term reforms. Winegarden proposes moving Medicare toward a direct payment model that empowers seniors with health savings accounts and lets doctors compete on value. At current expenditure levels, Winegarden argues that Medicare could provide beneficiaries with $15,151 that they could then use to purchase health insurance and pay directly for their health care needs. Near-term fixes include indexing physician payments to the cost of running a medical practice to prevent continued income erosion, ending site-based reimbursement disparities, and supporting value-based care experiments. "If we don't fix Medicare's pricing system, America's doctor shortage will only get worse," said Dr. Winegarden. "Reforms that align payments with economic reality are essential for ensuring that patients can access high-quality care when they need it." PRI's Center for Medical Economics and Innovation advances market-based reforms to improve healthcare outcomes and innovation. Read the full issue brief: About the Pacific Research Institute: The Pacific Research Institute is a nonpartisan, California-based think tank that promotes free-market policy solutions to advance individual freedom and opportunity. Learn more at Media ContactEmeline Bogle396522@ (202) 970-9742 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Pacific Research Institute Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBS News
04-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Trump's 50% steel and aluminum tariffs take effect today. Here's what could get more expensive.
The Trump administration raised tariffs on aluminum and steel to 50% today, a move experts say could increase costs on everything from homes and cars to household and office supplies. While the U.S. has carved out its own niche in domestic metals manufacturing, it also relies on imports from abroad to fill in the gaps: America imported 26.2 million metric tons of steel and 5.4 million metric tons of aluminum from abroad last year, according to the International Trade Administration. Canada serves as the biggest foreign source for both metals. The White House has been aggressively trying to pare back on America's reliance on foreign nations, imposing 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum in February, citing national security concerns. President Trump, during a visit to a U.S. Steel mill in Pittsburgh on May 30, announced he was doubling down on that rate, raising the 25% levies to 50%. The higher tariffs went into effect Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. EST. While the new tariffs have won over some of the nation's largest steel makers, who saw huge gains in share prices following Mr. Trump's May 30 announcement, experts say the levies will raise cost of manufacturing on a wide range of products, making many items more expensive to buy. That's because businesses typically pass on most or all of tariff-related costs to consumers through higher prices, according to economists. "That will hurt the people working in those industries and put their jobs under stress," said Wayne Winegarden, a senior fellow and director at the Pacific Research Institute, a right-leaning think tank. "And it also is going to put pressure on consumers, because those prices are going to increase." While some businesses may ultimately choose to absorb some of those increased costs, experts say others are likely to pass some of them along to customers — as was the case in 2018 when tariffs on steel and aluminum tariffs were introduced by the first Trump administration . Here are some of the consumer products that may get pricier with the new 50% steel and aluminum tariffs now in effect. Cars Automobile manufacturers are likely to feel the burn of higher tariffs, as they rely heavily on steel and aluminum for car production. The materials are found throughout the body and structure of a car, in everything from the car's frame to engine parts to the hub caps, pipes and bumpers. According to Jay Cushing, senior bond analyst with Gimme Credit, steel accounts for 60% of the weight of the average vehicle. Dean Baker, senior economist at The Center For Economic and Policy Research, told CBS MoneyWatch there is about $800 worth of steel in each vehicle. With that figure in mind, he projected a 50% tariff would drive up the cost of a car by around $400. Cushing, however, projects an even steeper price hike. "A doubling of tariffs from 25% to 50% could raise the cost of a car from $1,500 to $3,000 per vehicle," he told CBS MoneyWatch in an email. A 25% tariff on imported cars remains in place, although the Trump administration has softened industry tariffs to ensure automakers aren't hit twice with the additional import duty on imported steel and aluminum. "The metal tariffs should apply only once per vehicle," Cushing said. Sports equipment Athletes may also notice a slight uptick in prices when shopping for new equipment such as baseball bats, tennis rackets and lacrosse sticks which sometimes contain aluminum. Industry experts say they're already seeing price increases on aluminum bats, which are fairly expensive to begin with: upwards of $100 in many cases, with higher-end models running as high as $400. Those higher price tags could end up creating negative repercussions for sports participation. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association, which tracks industry data, has consistently found that the lowest household income brackets are most negatively impacted in terms of sports participation. "If we're going to continue to increase costs on equipment, then those lower income level households are going to continue to be left on the sideline in terms of literally and figuratively," said Todd Smith, president and CEO of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Beer and soda cans Whether it be beer, soda or seltzer, any beverages that come in a can will likely cost Americans more after the steel and aluminum tariffs take effect. This could lead major name-brand businesses to shift their strategy. Back in February, the CEO of Coca-Cola James Quincey said if aluminum cans become more expensive, the company would put more emphasis on plastic bottles. The soda giant sources aluminum for its cans from Canada, Quincey said on a February company earnings call. Canned goods and packaged grocery items Another place where Americans might feel a slight pinch is at the grocery store. Nonperishables that come in aluminum or steel cans — think beans, chickpeas, and soups — are typically thought of as a way for shoppers to economize. But the steel and aluminum tariffs could ratchet up the price of canned goods. Robert Budway, president of the Can Manufacturers Institute, told the Associated Press that manufacturers have become increasingly reliant on imported materials in recent years and that it's American families who will most likely bear the increased tariff costs. Baker, the economist from The Center For Economic and Policy Research, didn't have an exact estimate but said the increase to the cost of canned goods would be fairly low. "If you get $2 can of soup, maybe it would go up a cent or two," he said. There could be indirect price increases at the grocery store as well. Many packaged goods are made using machines with steel and aluminum machines, Baker said, meaning products like cookies could get more expensive. Household appliances/supplies A wide range of appliances from dishwashers and dryers to garbage disposals and air conditioners all stand to become pricier as a result of the Trump administration's 50% steel and aluminum tariffs. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers did not respond to CBS MoneyWatch's request for comment, but has said in the past that they strongly support an "integrated North American market" and have called for "common-sense" trade policies. "It can go from the grandiose of a washing machine and a car, to the trivial, like a staple or a paper clip," said Winegarden at the Pacific Research Institute. Lawn mowers could also see price hikes. Baker estimates that a lawn mower that goes for $250mightcost $255 after the tariffs take effect . "Will people notice that? Some will, some won't," he said. "But there's no doubt the direction is higher — the question is how much." Homes Building materials could also be impacted, which will ultimately translate to higher home prices. In an April blog post, documented how the price of nails used in homebuilding has already started to increased due to tariffs. A single box of coil roofing nails could go from $65 to $325, the real estate platform predicted at the time. Other products used in home construction like steel fasteners could also get caught in the crosshairs of the tariffs. This bodes poorly for the housing sector — which is already facing pressure from high prices, steep mortgage rates and lack of inventory. "President Trump's move to double steel and aluminum tariffs will have a negative impact on housing affordability by further disrupting building material supply chains and fueling business uncertainty," said Buddy Hughes, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders. Before the new 50% tariffs were introduced, the trade association estimated that tariff activity would add roughly $10,900 to the average cost of a new home.
CBS News
04-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
50% steel and aluminum tariffs take effect today. Here's what could get more expensive as a result..
The Trump administration raised tariffs on aluminum and steel to 50% today, a move experts say could increase costs on everything from homes and cars to household and office supplies. While the U.S. has carved out its own niche in domestic metals manufacturing, it also relies on imports from abroad to fill in the gaps: America imported 26.2 million metric tons of steel and 5.4 million metric tons of aluminum from abroad last year, according to the International Trade Administration. Canada serves as the biggest foreign source for both metals. But the White House is aggressively trying to pare back on America's reliance on foreign nations. After imposing 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum in February, citing national security concerns, President Trump announced during a visit to a U.S. Steel mill in Pittsburgh on May 30, that he was doubling that rate to 50%. The higher tariffs went into effect Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. EST. While the new tariffs have won over some of the nation's largest steel makers, who saw huge gains in share prices following Mr. Trump's May 30 announcement, experts say the levies will raise cost of manufacturing on a wide range of products, making many items more expensive to buy. That's because businesses typically pass on most or all of tariff-related costs to consumers through higher prices, according to economists. "That will hurt the people working in those industries and put their jobs under stress," said Wayne Winegarden, a senior fellow and director at the Pacific Research Institute, a right-leaning think tank. "And it also is going to put pressure on consumers, because those prices are going to increase." While some businesses may ultimately choose to absorb some of those increased costs, experts say others are likely to pass some of them along to customers — as was the case in 2018 when tariffs on steel and aluminum tariffs were introduced by the first Trump administration . Here are some of the consumer products that may get pricier with the new 50% steel and aluminum tariffs now in effect. Cars Automobile manufacturers are likely to feel the burn of higher tariffs, as they rely heavily on steel and aluminum for car production. The materials are found throughout the body and structure of a car, in everything from the car's frame to engine parts to the hub caps, pipes and bumpers. According to Jay Cushing, senior bond analyst with Gimme Credit, steel accounts for 60% of the weight of the average vehicle. Dean Baker, senior economist at The Center For Economic and Policy Research, told CBS MoneyWatch there is about $800 worth of steel in each vehicle. With that figure in mind, he projected a 50% tariff would drive up the cost of a car by around $400. Cushing, however, projects an even steeper price hike. "A doubling of tariffs from 25% to 50% could raise the cost of a car from $1,500 to $3,000 per vehicle," he told CBS MoneyWatch in an email. A 25% tariff on imported cars remains in place, although the Trump administration has softened industry tariffs to ensure automakers aren't hit twice with the additional import duty on imported steel and aluminum. "The metal tariffs should apply only once per vehicle," Cushing said. Sports equipment Athletes may also notice a slight uptick in prices when shopping for new equipment such as baseball bats, tennis rackets and lacrosse sticks which sometimes contain aluminum. Industry experts say they're already seeing price increases on aluminum bats, which are fairly expensive to begin with: upwards of $100 in many cases, with higher-end models running as high as $400. Those higher price tags could end up creating negative repercussions for sports participation. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association, which tracks industry data, has consistently found that the lowest household income brackets are most negatively impacted in terms of sports participation. "If we're going to continue to increase costs on equipment, then those lower income level households are going to continue to be left on the sideline in terms of literally and figuratively," said Todd Smith, president and CEO of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Beer and soda cans Whether it be beer, soda or seltzer, any beverages that come in a can will likely cost Americans more after the steel and aluminum tariffs take effect. This could lead major name-brand businesses to shift their strategy. Back in February, the CEO of Coca-Cola James Quincey said if aluminum cans become more expensive, the company would put more emphasis on plastic bottles. The soda giant sources aluminum for its cans from Canada, Quincey said on a February company earnings call. Canned goods and packaged grocery items Another place where Americans might feel a slight pinch is at the grocery store. Nonperishables that come in aluminum or steel cans — think beans, chickpeas, and soups — are typically thought of as a way for shoppers to economize. But the steel and aluminum tariffs could ratchet up the price of canned goods. Robert Budway, president of the Can Manufacturers Institute, told the Associated Press that manufacturers have become increasingly reliant on imported materials in recent years and that it's American families who will most likely bear the increased tariff costs. Baker, the economist from The Center For Economic and Policy Research, didn't have an exact estimate but said the increase to the cost of canned goods would be fairly low. "If you get $2 can of soup, maybe it would go up a cent or two," he said. There could be indirect price increases at the grocery store as well. Many packaged goods are made using machines with steel and aluminum machines, Baker said, meaning products like cookies could get more expensive. Household appliances/supplies A wide range of appliances from dishwashers and dryers to garbage disposals and air conditioners all stand to become pricier as a result of the Trump administration's 50% steel and aluminum tariffs. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers did not respond to CBS MoneyWatch's request for comment, but has said in the past that they strongly support an "integrated North American market" and have called for "common-sense" trade policies. "It can go from the grandiose of a washing machine and a car, to the trivial, like a staple or a paper clip," said Winegarden at the Pacific Research Institute. Lawn mowers could also see price hikes. Baker estimates that a lawn mower that goes for $250mightcost $255 after the tariffs take effect . "Will people notice that? Some will, some won't," he said. "But there's no doubt the direction is higher — the question is how much." Homes Building materials could also be impacted, which will ultimately translate to higher home prices. In an April blog post, documented how the price of nails used in homebuilding has already started to increased due to tariffs. A single box of coil roofing nails could go from $65 to $325, the real estate platform predicted at the time. Other products used in home construction like steel fasteners could also get caught in the crosshairs of the tariffs. This bodes poorly for the housing sector — which is already facing pressure from high prices, steep mortgage rates and lack of inventory. "President Trump's move to double steel and aluminum tariffs will have a negative impact on housing affordability by further disrupting building material supply chains and fueling business uncertainty," said Buddy Hughes, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders. Before the new 50% tariffs were introduced, the trade association estimated that tariff activity would add roughly $10,900 to the average cost of a new home.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Medicaid and food stamps are easy targets': House bill makes unprecedented cuts to Medicaid and SNAP
Older adults and low-income people will have a tougher time accessing food assistance and healthcare services under the House Republicans' tax bill that will now likely face changes in the Senate. The roughly 1,000-page bill that was passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday includes about $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, that would be the largest in the histories of the programs. Medicaid is the joint federal and state program that helps cover medical costs for some people with low income. After 25 years, I finally asked for separate checks — and my friends iced me out. Did I do something terrible? My husband used my money to renovate his house. Will I now get half of his property in a divorce? This hedge-fund manager has made about 50% in each of the last two years. Here's his home run trade. My ex-wife said she should have been compensated for working part time during our marriage. Do I owe her? My husband and I spend more money on our daughter and her family than on my single son. Do we compensate him? 'The big savings from the Medicaid program in the House bill will come from enforcing stricter work requirements, more frequent confirmation of eligibility and tightening up benefits,' Wayne Winegarden, director of the Pacific Research Institute's Center for Medical Economics and Innovation. 'A similar dynamic is occurring with the SNAP benefits, where savings are coming from imposing stricter work requirements on working-age adults.' Under the bill, 14 million Americans may lose health coverage, and 3 million households may go without food assistance, according to a nonpartisan watchdog group. 'Medicaid and food stamps are easy targets because the poor don't have lobbyists,' said Chris Orestis, president and founder of Retirement Genius, a retirement education and consulting firm. 'Seniors and vulnerable people have never seen these levels of cuts. This is unprecedented. The bill still adds $5 trillion to the deficit while gutting social services. It's a clear statement of the legislative priorities of the House and the administration.' More: What's in the GOP tax bill? An $815 tax cut for middle-class households — and $44,000 for millionaires The bill would add roughly $3 trillion to the debt over the next decade. If certain provisions are made permanent, the bill would add roughly $5 trillion to the debt, including interest, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, in remarks on Thursday on the House floor urging swift passage of the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' said the measure would revive the U.S. economy, offer 'historic' tax relief, bolster national defense and strengthen 'Medicaid for the people for need it the most.' The bill now goes to the Senate, which has signaled it will make changes. The two chambers would need to reconcile the details to ensure a majority vote to pass the measure. Then the bill would go to President Donald Trump to be signed into law. Read: A new 'senior bonus' could give older adults a $4,000 tax break. Here's who would qualify. Not everyone agrees with Johnson that the bill would strengthen Medicaid. The level of cuts are 'quite concerning, especially around older and vulnerable populations,' Jennifer Wagner, director of Medicaid eligibility and enrollment at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. 'A factual reading of this bill shows that vital assistance is being cut from vulnerable populations that go to protecting tax breaks for the wealthy.' In addition to the Medicaid and SNAP cuts, the bill would also trigger $500 billion in automatic cuts to Medicare, the program that provides health insurance to around 68 million older adults and people with disabilities. Under the statutory Pay-As-You-Go ('PAYGO') Act any spending must be offset by automatic cuts, to avoid deficit spending. The automatic Medicare reductions are capped at 4% of its yearly budget. 'As the bill is currently written, Medicare would see automatic cuts of about $500 billion. I doubt the final form of the bill will see that happen. I doubt they will allow $500 billion in Medicare cuts before the midterm elections,' Orestis said. Read: The current Republican tax bill could cut $500 billion from Medicare — 'This bill just gets more and more cruel' More than 17 million Americans aged 50 and older rely on Medicaid to stay in their homes, manage chronic conditions and afford long-term care, according to AARP. In a May 21 letter to Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., AARP said it feared that the bill would add burdens to older adults through complicated administrative hurdles, new work requirements and extra costs to the states to fund the program. 'We oppose efforts to add new burdens that could cost people their healthcare coverage not because they are ineligible, but because they missed a deadline or could not navigate a complex system,' AARP said in the letter. 'This legislation would double the frequency of eligibility determinations and add new cost-sharing burdens for the expansion population, delay improvements to outdated enrollment systems until 2035, reduce retroactive coverage and create broad new work requirements through age 64.' 'These changes would not improve access or efficiency: They would lead to older Americans losing their health coverage,' AARP said. The Medicaid cuts also would hurt the finances of nursing homes and lead to reduced services or outright closures. Nationally, 63% of nursing-home residents and 20% of assisted-living residents rely on Medicaid to pay for their care, according to the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living. 'Medicaid is the biggest payer of long-term services. If you're cutting about 10% of the Medicaid budget, you'll start to see closures of nursing homes all over the country,' Orestis said. 'The majority of nursing homes are run by for-profit companies and they can't absorb a 10% cut.' 'It's usually the red states that are most impacted by these cuts,' Orestis said. In an opinion piece in the New York Times, Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri expressed concerns earlier this month about the possibility of Medicaid cuts. 'If Congress cuts funding for Medicaid benefits, Missouri workers and their children will lose their healthcare. And hospitals will close. It's that simple. And that pattern will be replicated in states across the country,' Hawley wrote. Read: Family caregivers struggle the most in these states. What's being done to help? Among other changes in the bill, expanded work requirements for the SNAP program also include adults up to age 64, Wagner said. 'It makes it harder for older individuals to keep SNAP,' Wagner said. The cuts also affect Medicare Savings Programs, which help people with low incomes pay for their Medicare coverage, Wagner said. 'There's no question that this will significantly cut the safety net for low-income populations,' said Stephen Zuckerman, fellow in the Health Policy Division at the Urban Institute. 'It's a tradeoff that the House is making to offset the cost of tax cuts. It benefits high-income people and takes away from low-income people.' A 5-star fund manager is capitalizing on Trump's global market shake-up. Here's how. 'Is this a good tax strategy or a sham transaction?' My mother wants to give me her home. I have a plan to avoid taxes. My daughter's boyfriend, a guest in my home, offered to powerwash part of my house — then demanded money The dollar is struggling to rebound since 'liberation day.' Why it may keep falling. Surge in Treasury yields points to U.S. debt concerns as Trump's tax bill advances. Investors want this fix.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S.-China trade talks will shed light on the end goal for tariffs
The U.S. and China are set to begin trade talks in Geneva, Switzerland. Both sides will first want to make sure the other is serious about negotiating a future deal. Possible topics for discussion include lowering the current tariff rates of more than 100% and a litany of non-tariff trade barriers. This weekend's trade talks between the U.S. and China are an opening salvo in what is shaping up to be long and drawn-out negotiations between the world's two largest economies. Delegations from both countries are set to meet in Geneva, Switzerland, over the weekend for the first time since trade tensions escalated to fever pitch last month. After announcing widespread tariffs on virtually all of its trading partners, the U.S. then backtracked, pausing them for every country except China, which was singled out with 145% tariffs. China immediately responded with its 125% tariffs on U.S. imports. Part of the impetus for the talks was a mutual recognition that the current tariff levels had severely limited trade between the U.S. and China. 'The current tariffs on Chinese exports to the U.S. are so high that they essentially shut down direct trade between the countries,' said Wayne Winegarden, senior fellow for economics at the free market think tank the Pacific Research Institute. The weekend's trade talks will include Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and China's vice premier for economic policy He Lifeng. Both sides have telegraphed the meeting would be focused on easing tensions. Chinese officials framed the summit as an opportunity to 're-engage the U.S,' while on the U.S. side the operative word was 'de-escalation.' Despite the exorbitantly high tariffs the two countries had placed on each, the talks would include several other topics as well. 'De-escalation means reducing these tariffs but also preventing the broadening of this trade war beyond tariffs—we have already seen non-tariff retaliatory measures like rare earths export controls, canceled orders for Boeings, antitrust investigations of Google,' University of Kansas professor Jack Zhang, an expert in the political economy of East Asia, told Fortune. 'The danger is for the trade war to threaten other economic linkages beyond trade to flows of investment, technology, or even people.' But neither side was entirely conciliatory once the talks were agreed to. The U.S. stuck to its message that China was worse off than it was during the trade war. President Donald Trump said his tariffs had left China with 'with absolutely no business.' Meanwhile, Chinese government officials warned the U.S. to negotiate in good faith, with China's commerce ministry saying the U.S. needed to 'show sincerity' during the talks. 'If you say one thing and do another, or even attempt to continue to coerce and blackmail under the guise of talks, China will never agree, let alone sacrifice its principled position and international fairness and justice to seek any agreement,' a ministry statement said. A looming question from the U.S.'s side of the negotiating table is over the role of tariffs themselves. Since Trump took office in January, different factions have emerged among administration officials over the specific purpose tariffs play. One group views tariffs as a central part of a new, more protectionist U.S. trade policy. The other side is composed of more traditional free-traders that see tariffs as a tool to gain leverage during broader trade negotiations with other countries. 'That group seems to be leading trade policy at the moment and is well-represented in the U.S. delegation in Geneva,' said University of Michigan political science professor Iain Osgood, referring to Bessent and Greer's role in this weekend's summit. Regardless of which side wins out, the presence of a disagreement is not without consequences going into a negotiation. 'The tendency to see tariffs as a magical means to achieve drastically different strategic ends led to the bargaining failures,' Zhang said. He added that differences of opinion between members of the delegation made an already challenging negotiation harder because the U.S. can't commit to a specific set of narrow conditions for lifting tariffs. How exactly talks will unfold remains to be seen. On Wednesday, Bessent said that during this weekend's meetings the two sides would decide what to discuss. Some of the possible topics for discussion include export controls on specific products—rare earths from China and semiconductors from the U.S.—and Trump's decision to end the de minimis loophole, which exempted shipments below a certain value from duties. Topics could also extend beyond trade matters including TikTok's future ownership, curtailing fentanyl trafficking, and CK Hutchinson's control of major shipping canals, experts said. Given that these are some of the very first official conversations, the talks will help establish what the two countries are willing to negotiate. That is a critical initial step, but one that is more likely to yield symbolic gestures rather than concrete resolution to the dispute, according to experts. 'The likely scenario will be for the two sides to signal toughness while gauging the other's willingness and sincerity to engage in serious negotiations,' Zhang said. This story was originally featured on
