Trump Expresses Desire to Avoid Tariffs on China
In his early presidency days, Donald Trump faced challenges from critics, who sued his administration and questioned his decisions. Despite this, he seems unfazed by the opposition. In a recent interview with Fox News, he stated he would "rather not" impose tariffs on China, despite having previously pledged to do so. Trump noted, "we have something that they want, we have a pot of gold," indicating that he believes America holds negotiating power over China.
The president emphasised the significance of tariffs, saying, "We have one very big power over China, and that's tariffs, and they don't want them. But it's a tremendous power over China," showcasing his inclination to use economic leverage to negotiate.
Initially, Trump aimed for a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports effective from 1 February and had even suggested a levy of up to 60% during his campaign. However, his recent comments suggest a potential shift in strategy.
In response to these developments, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, urged for resolution through "dialogue and consultation," asserting that "China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial." She cautioned that "trade wars and tariff wars have no winners and don't serve anyone's interests or the world's interests."
