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Seating to reporters on Air Force One, President Donald Trump said his administration had already finalized the latest set of tariffs and that he was ready to impose them "in a short time." Susan Walsh / AP Photo
President Donald Trump threatened Friday to hit Beijing with tariffs on an additional $ 267 billion worth of goods, a measure that would broaden the growing trade war to cover virtually everything the United States imports from China.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Mr Trump said his administration had a new set of tariffs and that he was ready to impose them "in a short time."
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These penalties, if applied, would be in addition to the tariffs that the administration has already applied on about $ 53 billion of Chinese imports and an additional $ 200 billion that could be taxed. in the coming days.
"The $ 200 billion we are talking about could happen very soon," Trump said, indicating that he could be open to a negotiated solution if Beijing were willing to make concessions. "To a certain extent, it will be China."
He then added, "I hate to say that, but behind that, there's another $ 267 billion ready to be sent on short notice if I wish. This totally changes the equation.
A The comment period of Trump's plan to impose tariffs on $ 200 billion worth of Chinese products officially ended Friday, paving the way for Trump to put the threat into effect. As a rule, the administration should conduct an analysis of the thousands of public comments received before imposing the threatened bonds, but the president seems eager to make these withdrawals. "It's in the hopper," Trump told reporters.
It is possible that Trump may not reach all $ 200 billion at a time and may impose high tariffs on some products and lower tariffs on others, according to commercial experts.
Impose tariffs on an additional $ 267 billion worth of goods from China – in addition to some $ 253 billion already imposed or pending – would mean that virtually all current imports from China would be caught between two fires, including consumer goods such as cell phones and televisions. Trump's comments on Friday seemed to indicate that he was ready to put the duties on the additional amount in place without any new public input or comment period.
The president's threat provoked a strong reaction from the industrial groups already caught in the crossfire in his rivalry with Beijing.
"The idea that the president will add $ 267 billion of additional tariffs is totally irresponsible and possibly illegal," said Jose Castaneda, spokesman for the Council of the Industry Industry, said in a statement. information technologies. "Although we can not overstate the potential economic harm of such a decision, we also question whether the administration conducted the necessary investigation of Chinese policies and practices to justify this level of rights under the Article 301. We urge the Administration to clearly explain how Article 301 allows it to take such measures. "
The US Trade Representative's office, which led the investigation that gave Trump the legal power to impose bonds on China, sent back questions about Trump's latest remarks to the White House. A spokesman for the White House was not immediately available to clarify Trump's remarks.
White House chief economics advisor Larry Kudlow said the government would continue to talk with the Chinese, but so far Beijing has opposed US demands.
"We want weaker barriers at all levels. You know, zero tariff, zero non-tariff barrier, zero subsidy, stop the [intellectual property] stealing, stopping technology transfer, allowing Americans to own their own businesses, "Kudlow said in an interview on CNBC. "This is what we have been asking for for many months and so far these requests have not been met. However, hope is eternal and discussions continue. "
Beijing has so far reacted in kind with retaliation measures on US exports worth $ 53 billion in China. The United States exported about $ 130 billion to China last year. Much of the Chinese retaliation targeted US agricultural products, a measure copied by the European Union, Canada and Mexico in their retaliation against Trump 's steel and aluminum tariffs.
Trump has been trying to mitigate the blow with a multi-billion dollar aid package for farmers, but many Democrats say they're not sure they have a clear strategy and a final game to solve the many commercial fights that he has launched in the world.
The president made his last threat in view of a fundraiser for the resp. Kevin Cramer, a Republican from North Dakota who is in the running to overthrow Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp in the November elections.
"The threat of increased trade war today poses a threat to farmers in North Dakota," Heitkamp said in a statement. "I have been insisting for a long time that China is responsible for its trade violations, but North Dakotans. "
Free market Republicans also shrank from Trump's latest threat, saying it undermined the good work the administration has done by cutting taxes and cutting regulation.
"We urge the administration not to lose sight of the farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses across the country who are crushed by this misguided trade war," said Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity. "Imposing high tariffs and bailing out some industries with government subsidies is not the way you punish China, it's the way you become China, Americans do not want government subsidies, they want free trade and open markets. "
