Trump proposes $100 billion in new tariffs on Chinese goods
Posted April 5, 2018 4:59 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
WASHINGTON, DC. (NEWS 1130) – President Donald Trump has instructed the US trade representative to consider slapping $100 billion in additional tariffs on Chinese goods.
The move comes a day after China issued a $50 billion list of US goods including soybeans and small aircraft for possible tariff hikes in an escalating and potentially damaging dispute.
The White House says Trump has instructed the Office of the United States Trade Representative to consider whether $100 billion of additional tariffs would be appropriate under section 301 and, if so, to identify which products they should apply to.
He’s also instructed his secretary of agriculture “to implement a plan to protect our farmers and agricultural interests.”
Trump argues China’s trade practices have led to the closure of American factories and the loss of millions of American jobs.
This comes as it looks more and more like as the next round of NAFTA renegotiations are on hold, despite high-level ministerial meetings get underway today in Washington.
It all comes as the US pushes Canada and Mexico for a quick agreement in principle, ahead of the Mexican and US mid-term elections.
The next round of negotiations were expected early this month in Washington. However, a source close to the talks says nothing has been officially confirmed yet because a lot will depend on the new meetings.
