President Donald Trump says he intends to apply an additional 10% tariff on goods imported from China.
The announcement is the latest move in the ongoing trade war between the two countries. Imports from China already incur a minimum 10% levy, but Trump’s fresh threat would push the levy even higher.
In early February, The Dallas Express reported that China announced a new 15% tariff on imported American coal and liquified natural gas. Crude oil, agricultural machinery, and large-engine cars from the United States would also be subject to a new tax, albeit slightly less at 10%.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its strong “dissatisfaction and resolute opposition” to Trump’s tariff plans, per the BBC.
On Thursday, the President also reiterated his intention to move forward with 25% tariffs on imports from neighboring countries Canada and Mexico. Those levies are set to begin on March 4.
The tariffs were initially supposed to start one month earlier; however, Trump paused implementation after both countries agreed to beef up border security and discuss methods to reduce drug trafficking into the United States.
Still, the President said neither nation has done enough, with drugs “still pouring into our Country from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels.”
Trump also highlighted China’s role in the illicit activity.
“A large percentage of these Drugs, much of them in the form of Fentanyl, are made in, and supplied by, China. More than 100,000 people died last year due to the distribution of these dangerous and highly addictive POISONS. Millions of people have died over the last two decades,” Trump posted to Truth Social on February 27.
“We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA, and therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled. China will likewise be charged an additional 10% Tariff on that date. The April Second Reciprocal Tariff date will remain in full force and effect. Thank you for your attention to this matter. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s foreign affairs ministry, said Trump was using fentanyl sourced from China as an “excuse” to threaten aggressive tariffs.
“Pressure, coercion, and threats are not the correct way to deal with China,” he said, per the BBC.