Trump Says New Duties on China Could Take Effect Feb. 1
President Donald Trump is fanning the flames of a trade war with China by renewing campaign threats to up duties on products made by the sourcing superpower.
In a statement to reporters at the White House on Tuesday evening, Trump said his administration was considering levying 10-percent tariffs on China starting next month.
“We’re talking about a tariff of 10 percent on China based on the fact that they’re sending fentanyl to Mexico and Canada,” he said, according to a report from CNBC. “Probably Feb. 1 is the date we’re looking at,” he added.
The comments took place in the early morning hours for Chinese officials, who had not yet released comments on the matter by the time of publication. But at his morning briefing on Tuesday, China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun responded to the news that Trump had ordered a review of trade issues pertaining to China.
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“Economic cooperation and trade between China and the United States benefit both sides. Keeping business ties sound and stable serves the fundamental interests of both countries and both peoples, it is also conducive to global economic growth,” he said.
“China stands ready to follow the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, strengthen dialogue and communication with the U.S., properly manage differences, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation,” he added. “We hope the U.S. will work with us to promote the steady, sound and sustainable growth of bilateral trade and economic ties.”
Trump also reiterated his thinking about a potential duty increase for Mexico and Canada during the exchange with news outlets, repeating comments that the two countries could see tariffs of “approximately 25 percent” by or around Feb. 1.
His first comments on the timeline took place within hours of his inauguration, prompting a swift but measured response from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. At a press conference Tuesday, the outgoing leader said, “If there are unfair tariffs, we will respond robustly and we will be there to support Canadians and protect our interests.”
Conservative party Premier Doug Ford was more colorful in his remarks on the issue, telling the Associated Press that Trump “declared an economic war on Canada” with his tariff threat. The leader from Ontario said he and his contemporaries “are going to use every tool in our tool box to defend our economy,” including imposing dollar-for-dollar duties on American-made alcohol and other products.
“President Trump seems intent on starting a trade war that will create the kind of economic uncertainty that only benefits China,” Ford wrote on X Tuesday. “There’s a better way. Let’s beat China with Fortress Am-Can.”
