Trump issues fresh deadline with warning of 10% tariffs on imports from China
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China responds by saying there are ‘no winners in a trade war or a tariff war’. US president Donald Trump has issued a fresh threat of hitting China with 10 per cent tariffs on all imports which can come into force as soon as 1 February, despite a “very good” call with Chinese president Xi Jinping.
On the very first full day of his second presidency, Mr Trump said the tariffs on China were still on the table in his remarks to reporters at the White House on Tuesday. The remarks came even after Mr Trump refrained from mentioning China from the countries he was looking to target immediately.
“We’re talking about a tariff of 10 per cent on China, based on the fact that they’re sending fentanyl to Mexico and Canada,” Mr Trump said during an event at the White House. “Probably 1 February is the date we’re looking at.”. During his campaign, Mr Trump pledged to impose sweeping tariffs against China and other countries and said he would hit Chinese products with 60 per cent tariffs in what could have been a serious blow to the second-largest economy.
However, Mr Trump’s opening moves have been milder than expected in comparison to the 25 per cent tariffs he said he could impose on Mexico and Canada by 1 February on his first day in office. The Chinese foreign ministry on Wednesday pledged to defend its “national interests” after Mr Trump’s latest warning.
