Donald Trump told the Wall Street Journal that he would impose additional tariffs on China if it “goes into Taiwan,” Reuters reported.
“I’m going to tell them if they come into Taiwan, I’m going to tax them 150%, 200%,” Trump said during an interview with the publication.
Asked if he would use military force in a Chinese blockade of Taiwan, Trump said he would not do so because Chinese President Xi Jinping respects him and the two have a “strong relationship.”
China claims Taiwan as its territory and has never shied away from using force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan strongly objects to China’s claims.
Trump plans tariffs of 10 percent to 20 percent on nearly all U.S. imports, as well as additional tariffs of 60 percent or even more on goods from China, which he says will boost U.S. manufacturing.
During his tenure as president from early 2017 to early 2021, Trump’s aggressive approach to China was punctuated by waves of tariffs that plunged the two countries into a trade war that rattled markets around the world.
In the Wall Street Journal interview, Trump also spoke about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, repeating his claim that if he were still in office, Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have launched the invasion.
“I told Putin: ‘Vladimir, we have a great relationship. Vladimir, if you go against Ukraine, I will hit you so hard you won’t even believe it. I will hit you right in the middle of Moscow,” said Trump, telling the publication about his past conversation with Putin.
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