U.S. President Donald Trump escalated the trade war with China, announcing he would hike tariffs on some 300 billion dollars’ worth of Chinese goods to 10 per cent starting on Sept. 1.
The measures are on top of the 25-per-cent tariffs that have already been imposed incrementally over the past year on 250 billion dollars’ worth of Chinese products.
When they take effect, all Chinese goods coming into the U.S. will be subject to punitive tariffs.
The announcement follows talks between the world’s two largest economies in Shanghai this week, the first time negotiators met since Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed at the G20 to pause further tariff hikes and get back to the table. The pause was short lived.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said that the new tariffs could go “beyond 25 per cent,” though he was not currently planning to do so.
“If they don’t want to trade with us, that’s fine with me, it would save a lot of money,” Trump said outside the White House, as he was set to depart for a campaign rally.
He also accused China of devaluing its currency.
In announcing the new tariffs, Trump said China had retreated from its pledge to increase purchases of U.S. agricultural products and reneged on a promise to stop the sale of Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, to the U.S.
The comments were an admission that key concessions Trump had touted had failed to materialize, and the announcement further indicated the trade war was not abating.
“Until such time as there is a deal, we’ll be taxing them,” the president said.
He added that he was not concerned by a decline on U.S. markets after his latest tariff announcement.
U.S. stocks slipped as news of the new tariffs, which were not widely expected, broke with the S&P 500 index closing down nearly 1 per cent.
Trump insisted he had no intention of cancelling future rounds of trade talks, saying he looked forward to “positive dialogue” with China.
The tariff announcement comes just a day after the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates, citing a global slowdown and the uncertainties of the trade war, in particular the tariffs.
Farmers, a key group in Trump’s base of supporters, have been taking hits in the trade war.
The president has unleashed this year a 16-billion-dollar aid plan for the agricultural sector, coming on top of a 12-billion-dollar plan the previous year.
China is also believed to be taking steps to bolster its own economy, which has shown signs of slowing.
Trump has railed against China’s alleged unfair trade practices, including blocking market access, and problems of intellectual property theft.
He alleged that the sides were close to concluding a comprehensive trade deal three months ago, but China pulled back at the last moment.
Broadcaster CNBC reported that Trump made the latest announcement on tariffs after receiving a briefing from the delegation to the Shanghai talks, which was led by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
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