US-China Trade Tensions Escalate; Trump Unhurried in Negotiations
The US President Donald Trump recently implemented additional tariffs on Chinese imports, sparking retaliatory measures from China. The US administration imposed a 10% extra duty on all Chinese goods, building upon existing taxes. Beijing responded by filing a WTO lawsuit against the US and emphasized the need for dialogue to resolve the situation.
China has also levied retaliatory tariffs targeting key US exports such as coal (15%), liquefied natural gas (15%), crude oil (10%), and agricultural machinery (10%). Moreover, China initiated an antitrust investigation into Google, potentially expanding the trade dispute into the tech sector.
In a White House press conference, Trump stated he’s “in no rush” to engage in discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He indicated that talks would occur at an appropriate time and downplayed the impact of China’s retaliatory tariffs. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed no scheduled call yet but noted Xi had reached out.
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, expressed hope that the US will cooperate with Beijing to maintain stable, healthy ties. In a separate development, Trump suspended recently imposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico after discussions with their leaders, who agreed to enhance border security measures.
Trump has also threatened to impose tariffs on the EU unless they remove trade barriers. The US President continues to use tariffs as a negotiating tool in various international trade disputes.