China has announced that it will impose tariffs of 10% and 15% on agricultural products coming from the United States in response to the 20% tariffs imposed by Washington on Chinese products that came into effect recently. The Chinese tariffs will affect, among others, chicken, wheat, corn, soybeans, pork, beef, seafood, fruits, and dairy products.
The tariffs will come into effect on March 10 and are a response to the unilateral tariffs imposed by the United States, which, according to the Chinese Ministry of Finance, harm the multilateral trading system and increase the burden on American businesses and consumers. China has also announced that it will bring the case to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and has included American companies on export control lists.
During his first presidency, Donald Trump maintained a tense relationship with China by imposing tariffs worth about $370 billion annually, to which China responded with levies on American exports. Trump believes that China is not doing enough to prevent the entry of fentanyl into the United States, although Chinese authorities insist that their drug policy is strict and they have cooperated with outstanding results in this area.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce described Washington's actions as an act of unilateralism and harassment that disrespects international trade rules. This escalation of tariffs adds to the trade tensions between the two countries, which seek to protect their interests and rights in a context of economic disputes.
