China Vows to Defend "National Interest" Against Trump's 10% Tariff

Photo : AP

China responded to President Donald Trump’s warning about new tariffs on Wednesday. The country promised to protect its “national interests” in the ongoing trade disagreement. Trump said he may add a 10% tax on Chinese goods, which could start by the end of next week.

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In reply, China’s foreign ministry said it was ready to keep talking to the U.S., settle differences, and improve the relationship between the two countries. The ministry also said both countries should try to solve their problems without using taxes, as no one wins in a trade war.

A spokeswoman for China, Mao Ning, said while China will defend its interests, it hopes to find peaceful ways to work with the U.S.

Trump’s new tariff threat comes after he had discussed tariffs earlier. On Tuesday, he said the U.S. government was considering a 10% tax on Chinese goods because of concerns over fentanyl being sent from China to the U.S. through Mexico and Canada. Trump mentioned that these tariffs might begin on February 1st.

The February 1st date is important because Trump had also suggested he might add a 25% tax on imports from Canada and Mexico, accusing them of not stopping illegal immigration and fentanyl smuggling into the U.S.

China’s economy still depends on exports to grow, though the country is trying to build more local businesses. The U.S. is an important buyer of Chinese goods, and China is one of the biggest sources of U.S. imports, along with Mexico and Canada.

Trump has been tough on China since his first term. He added taxes on Chinese goods, saying China’s trade actions were unfair. President Joe Biden has continued this approach, adding new rules to stop China from getting high-tech products like semiconductor chips.

During his campaign, Trump also said he might increase tariffs if he won a second term. These ongoing trade issues show how global trade and security concerns are changing.