News / Business

Trump threatens to slapp tariffs on all imported Chinese goods

Saturday, 08 September 2018 4:57 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 08 September 2018 5:01 AM ]

US President Donald Trump speaks during a fundraiser in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on September 7, 2018. AFP

US President Donald Trump has fanned the flames of an ongoing trade war with China by threatening to slap tariffs on all of the imported Chinese goods.

"The $200bn we are talking about could take place very soon depending on what happens with them…To a certain extent it's going to be up to China. And I hate to say this, but behind that is another $267bn ready to go on short notice if I want. That changes the equation," he said in an address on Friday.
The remarks intensify the current trade war between the US and China. They also come just hours before a White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said talks with China were going on to defuse the conflict. On the other hand, there have been more positive signs in the US talks with its other partners including Canada and the EU.

Back in June, Trump threatened to escalate the tariffs fight with China into an all-out trade war, promising to impose massive duties on Chinese goods.
China, in return, vowed to retaliate by slapping duties on several American commodities, including oil which has been flowing in greater volumes to the world’s biggest consumer of crude in recent years.
Trump initiated the trade war with China in April when he announced unusually high tariffs on Chinese aluminum and steel imports. Beijing repeatedly cautioned against such a war but then took retaliatory action.
Several rounds of tit-for-tat measures were introduced before the two sides agreed to negotiate to resolve the matter.
Talks in June failed to resolve the escalating trade dispute between Washington and Beijing, with each side refusing to agree on specific demands from the other.