At the WTO's General Council meeting that took place yesterday and today, China put on the agenda a systemic concern about recent trade actions and rhetoric by President Donald Trump and his administration relating to tariffs and tariff threats.

The U.S. government has filed its brief in the litigation over whether Hesai Technology, an electronics company headquartered in Shanghai, should be taken off a blacklist of Chinese military companies.

In President Trump's first few weeks in office, he has been very active on trade policy, frequently airing his complaints about trade deficits and unfair trade. From a Chinese perspective, his early activity is probably somewhat of a relief, as he and his administration have challenged other U.

This past week, CTM covered the following issues: * China’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. * MOFCOM comments on sanctions on PVH and Illumina * China's SPS announcements in January * New U.S. 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum * U.S. House hearing on Chinese port investments * Panama’s decision

As part of this week's announcement of higher U.S. tariffs on aluminum, the Trump administration has pointed to Chinese exports to Mexico as a concern.

The U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Homeland Security held a hearing today on "Examining the PRC’s Strategic Port Investments in the Western Hemisphere and the Implications for Homeland Security."

Today, President Trump announced 25% tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum, strengthening some of the trade restrictions from his first term in office.