New Delhi: The Trump administration has imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, prompting a sharp reaction from Beijing. The move, which comes after Trump’s announcement of similar tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, is seen as part of his broader strategy to reduce imports and boost U.S. manufacturing.
Trump justified the new tariffs, citing a need to protect American interests, including addressing concerns over illegal immigration. However, the tariff targeting Chinese goods has sparked strong condemnation from Beijing, which has vowed to take “countermeasures” to defend its rights and interests.
In an official statement, China’s Foreign Ministry condemned the tariffs as a violation of global trade rules, warning that such actions could undermine U.S.-China cooperation on issues like drug control. Beijing stressed that trade and tariff wars benefit no one, arguing that the U.S.’s unilateral actions contravene World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and would hurt both nations’ economies.
China also addressed the issue of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid linked to overdose deaths in the U.S. The country asserted that it had implemented strict controls on the drug and cooperated with Washington on the matter. Beijing emphasized that it had classified all fentanyl-related substances as controlled in 2019, following a request from the U.S., and called on the U.S. to address its fentanyl crisis in a more “rational” and “objective” manner, instead of using tariffs as a tool of pressure.
The Chinese government warned that further tariff hikes could strain its willingness to collaborate on counternarcotics efforts and urged the U.S. to reconsider its approach to trade relations and drug control.
