CNN
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Former President Donald Trump mentioned Sunday he would take into account imposing a tariff upward of 60% on all Chinese language imports if he regains the presidency. His remarks come at a time of high economic and other tensions between the US and China.
“No, I might say perhaps it’s going to be greater than that,” Trump mentioned when requested by Fox Information’ Maria Bartiromo whether or not he would take into account imposing a 60% tariff, as The Washington Post has reported.
As president, Trump slapped tariffs of 25% on $50 billion of Chinese language items in June 2018. Beijing countered with its personal tariffs, and the spiral continued till the 2 nations arrived at an settlement in 2020. The Biden administration has largely stored the Trump-era tariffs in place.
The previous president additionally mentioned he thought China would attempt to intrude within the 2024 presidential election.
“I feel they may, they usually received’t be interfering on my behalf. We should always go same-day voting, paper ballots, voter ID and no mail-in ballots,” Trump mentioned.
Chinese language chief Xi Jinping told President Joe Biden that China wouldn’t intrude within the 2024 US presidential election when the 2 males met in November, CNN has reported. However FBI Director Christopher Wray warned Wednesday that Chinese hackers are getting ready to “wreak havoc and trigger real-world hurt” to the US.
Trump additionally praised Xi, whom he described as “an excellent buddy of mine throughout my time period,” and mentioned, “I need China to do nice, I do.”
Trump wouldn’t say whether or not he would intervene if China tried taking up Taiwan, arguing that doing so would “jeopardize my negotiating skill with China.”
China’s ruling Communist Get together views Taiwan as a part of its territory, regardless of by no means having managed it, and chief Xi has not dominated out using army pressure to “reunify” the island with the mainland.
The US, in the meantime, is obligated below the Taiwan Relations Act to offer Taiwan with the army means to defend itself, one thing Beijing regards as interference in its inside affairs.
CNN’s Jack Forrest and Brad Lendon contributed to this report.