Question

On July 14， 2020 President Trump made the following statement about MFN/NTR status and the US. What are at least two things wrong with this statement?

“Biden personally led the effort to give China permanent, most-favored-nation (ntr) status, which is a tremendous advantage for a country to have. Few countries have it. But the US does not have it. Never did. Probably never asked for it, because they did not know what they were doing.”

Answer 1

M.F.N - Most favoured nation, a status that WTO members confer on each other.

1. False claim about biden -

Biden was never the leader in making the most-favored-nation status permanent for China. Infact, it was an initiative of former President Bill Clinton and established by former President George W. Bush.

2. False claim about advantage to China -

There was no tremendous advantage to china from the M.F.N status. The U.S tarrif barriers on chinese imports were never lowered on account of the M.F.N status of China.

3. False claim about M.F.N status of US -

The United States has enjoyed most favored nation status from all members of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade since 1947.