制裁中国“食用油”？，美报复恐自食其果

Core Points - The article discusses the escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China, particularly focusing on the U.S. response to China's export restrictions on rare earths and other products [1][3] - President Trump has threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese goods and hinted at retaliatory measures against Chinese imports, particularly targeting used cooking oil (UCO) [1][3] Group 1: U.S.-China Trade Relations - The U.S. is considering retaliatory actions against China for halting imports of American soybeans, which has led to a significant drop in soybean prices in the U.S. [1][3] - Trump has accused China of deliberately stopping U.S. soybean imports and suggested that the U.S. could stop purchasing Chinese cooking oil as a countermeasure [3] Group 2: Used Cooking Oil (UCO) Market - China is a major supplier of used cooking oil to the U.S., with the U.S. accounting for 43% of China's UCO exports in 2024 [3] - The demand for UCO in the U.S. has surged due to the Biden administration's push for green transportation, which relies on UCO for biofuel production [3] Group 3: Implications of Trade Actions - Economists question the effectiveness of targeting Chinese cooking oil, noting that Europe is also a significant buyer of Chinese UCO, with exports to Europe increasing by 45% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2024 [5] - Cutting off UCO supplies from China could adversely affect U.S. domestic reduction plans and energy transition efforts, potentially leading to higher costs for biofuel production [5]