Economic tensions between the United States and China continue to be talked about. In a recent interview on Fox News, former US President Donald Trump said he would consider imposing tariffs of up to 60% on all Chinese imports if he returned to power. This declaration comes in a context of strong tensions between the two world powers.
Asked if he would consider imposing a 60% tariff, as reported by The Washington Post, Trump replied: “No, I would say maybe it will be more than that.” It is worth recalling that during his term, Trump imposed tariffs of 25% on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods in June 2018. In retaliation, China also imposed tariffs, leading to an escalation of trade tensions . The two countries finally agreed on a deal in 2020, and the Biden administration has largely maintained the tariffs put in place by the Trump era.
Trump also said he believed China would try to interfere in the 2024 presidential election. “I think they will, and they won’t interfere in my favor. We should vote on the same day, with paper ballots, voter ID and no mail-in voting,” he said. It is worth noting that Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly told US President Joe Biden during their meeting last November that China would not interfere in the 2024 presidential election. However, FBI Director Christopher Wray, recently warned that Chinese hackers were preparing to “cause real havoc and damage” in the United States.
In his remarks, Trump also praised Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom he called a “very good friend” during his time in office. He said: “I want China to succeed, that’s my wish.” However, he did not indicate whether he would intervene in the event of a possible Chinese takeover of Taiwan, saying it would “jeopardize its ability to negotiate with China.”
China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory, although it has never exercised control over the island. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has not ruled out the use of military force to “reunify” Taiwan with mainland China. As for the United States, it is required by the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with the military means to defend itself, which Beijing considers as interference in its internal affairs.
It is clear that relations between the United States and China remain tense, and Donald Trump’s statements raise questions about the future of economic relations between the two countries. It will be interesting to follow the evolution of these tensions in the months and years to come.