Feb. 5 (UPI) — Former President Donald Trump said he would slap tariffs of at least 60% on imports of Chinese goods should he be re-elected in November.
Trump signaled there would be no change from the tough-on-China policy he pursued in his first term in an interview on Fox News Sunday in which he accused China of unfair trade practices and intellectual property rights violations.
“I’m going to raise it by more than that,” Trump said when asked whether the 60% figure reported in the Washington Post last month was correct.
“You know, obviously I’m not looking to hurt China. I want to get along with China. I think it’s great. But they’ve really taken advantage of our country.
“COVID cover-up, intellectual property theft, the list is long from our number one adversary,” said Trump.
“They respected our country three years ago. Today they think our country’s a joke,” he said, accusing President Joe Biden of being “weak” when it came to China.
China’s Foreign Ministry on Monday refused to answer questions about Trump’s comments and insisted a strong trading relationship was in both countries’ mutual interest.
“I want to stress that the economic and trade relations between China and the US are mutually beneficial and win-win in nature,” said spokesman Wang Wenbin.
“Upholding sound and steady growth of China-U.S. economic and trade ties serves the fundamental interests of both countries and our peoples and is conducive to global economic growth.”
However, Biden has not reversed $250 billion of tariffs averaging just under 20% on Chinese imports — including steel, seafood and chemicals — imposed by Trump in the latter half of his term, blamed for raising prices U.S consumers pay and hurting U.S. competitiveness.
China retaliated by prompting China to retaliate by imposing tariffs on U.S. imports — mainly farm goods.
Chinese data show U.S. imports from China slumped 13.1% in 2023 from the previous year, their steepest drop in nearly 30 years, while U.S. figures show Mexico — and possibly Canada — poised to overtake China as the leading exporting nations to the United States.
The U.S. trade deficit with China reached $367.4 in 2022.
Trump denied wanting to start another trade war but insisted his tough stance during his 2017 to 2021 term stopped China from dumping and other abuses.
His campaign website, however, states he plans to revoke China’s Most Favored Nation trade status.
“It is long past time China stops getting preferential treatment as they undermine American national security interests around the world,” the pledge reads.
