"Trump Has Been Tough on China, and He’s Not Backing Down" – White House on New Tariffs
Washington DC, March 6 – The White House reaffirmed President Donald Trump’s aggressive stance on China, highlighting his latest move to double tariffs on all Chinese imports from 10% to 20% as part of his economic strategy.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that Trump has consistently been “very tough on China,” pointing out that his administration had previously imposed billions of dollars in tariffs that remained in place even after a change in leadership.
“The President has been very tough on China, not just now with 20% tariffs and the reciprocal tariffs set to hit on April 2nd, but also in his first term. Billions of dollars’ worth of tariffs were implemented on China, and it’s quite telling that the previous administration did not rescind them because they realized their value in deterring China and raising revenue here in the United States,” Leavitt said.
China responded swiftly to Trump’s latest tariff hike, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian declaring:
“If war is what the US wants—be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war—we’re ready to fight till the end.”
The New York Post reported that China retaliated with 10% to 15% hikes on import levies, primarily targeting American agricultural and food products—a sector crucial to the US economy.
As tensions mount, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a strong warning, asserting that America remains fully prepared to counter any threats from China.
“If we want to deter war with the Chinese or others, we have to be strong,” Hegseth stated.
Echoing this sentiment, Leavitt reaffirmed that the US is ready to defend itself under Trump’s leadership, adding:
“America will always be prepared to defend itself, especially under the leadership of this President in the Oval Office. And that certainly remains true, again, when it comes to tariffs.”
Beyond trade disputes, Leavitt also pointed to China’s increasing influence in the Panama Canal, a key strategic concern for the US.
“The President was very vocal several weeks ago about ensuring that China is not controlling the Panama Canal. This is a very important place for the United States of America,” she said.
She added that Trump is committed to preventing Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere, particularly in areas of strategic military and trade importance.
“The President will continue to ensure that the Chinese government, the CCP, cannot infiltrate the Western Hemisphere and certainly not the Panama Canal, which is a very important place for our country,” she asserted.
With tariff wars intensifying and geopolitical tensions rising, both the US and China appear unwilling to back down.
As both nations brace for the next phase of this economic battle, the world is watching whether diplomacy or confrontation will shape the future of US-China relations.
Tags: US-China Trade War, Donald Trump, China Tariffs, Trade Policy, US Defense, Economic Sanctions, White House, Pete Hegseth, China Retaliation, Panama Canal, Global Trade
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