Trump threatens China with $100bn more in tariffs as response to Beijing’s ‘unfair retaliation’

Donald Trump has instructed the US Trade Representative to consider slapping China with an additional $100 billion in tariffs, accusing China of engaging in “unfair retaliation” instead of backing down to Washington’s pressure.  “Rather than remedy its misconduct, China has chosen to harm our farmers and manufacturers. In light of China’s unfair retaliation, I have instructed the USTR to consider whether $100 billion of additional tariffs would be appropriate under section 301 and, if so, to identify the

products upon which to impose such tariffs,” Trump’s statement, released by the White House, said.Earlier this week Beijing announced that it was considering a mirror response, after the United  States Trade Representative (USTR) released a list of Chinese products, totalling some $50 billion, which it plans to slap with increased tariffs, under Trump’s order. Despite Beijing’s repeated warnings that it would proportionally respond to any US moves, and its calls for negotiations to avoid an escalation of a trade war, Donald Trump on Thursday decided to adopt a harsher policy. READ MORE