Trump said that China was not ready to conclude a trade agreement, repeats the threat of more tariffs

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump reiterated on Tuesday his threat to raise tariffs on an additional $ 267 billion in Chinese imports if Beijing defended recent US taxes and other measures in the US. part of a growing trade war the economic giants.

Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, also said China was not ready to conclude a trade deal.

"China wants to reach an agreement, and I say that they are not ready yet," Trump said. "I'm just saying they're not ready yet. And we canceled a few meetings because I say that they are not ready to reach an agreement. "

When asked if he was ready to collect new taxes in the event of reprisals from China, Mr. Trump replied, "Of course, absolutely."

He added that the current trade imbalance between the United States and China means "they have already taken retaliatory measures".

Last month, Trump imposed tariffs on nearly $ 200 billion of Chinese imports and then threatened further levies if China took retaliatory action. China reacted by applying tariffs on about $ 60 billion of US imports.

Citing the growing trade war, the International Monetary Fund on Tuesday lowered its global economic growth forecast for 2018 and 2019.

Asked about Trump's remarks at a press conference held Wednesday in Beijing, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lu Kang said that a trade war was bad for him. world economy and not in the interest of one or the other country.

"But China's resolve to protect its own legitimate interests is unwavering. Nobody should have any illusions about it, "Lu said.

The United States wants to put pressure on China to radically change its practices in trade, technology transfer and subsidies to high-tech industries.

Trump's latest comments underscore Washington's threat to impose tariffs on Chinese goods worth more than $ 500 billion – almost the total amount of US imports from China last year.