When U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to impose new tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico on the 25th, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded cautiously and expressed willingness to negotiate.
At a regular briefing on the 26th, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maoning responded to a question from a foreign reporter asking, “President-elect Trump said he would impose an additional 10% tariff on China on top of the existing tariffs. What is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ position?” “I will respond later,” he said.
Then, additional questions followed, such as, ‘Has China ever contacted the Trump transition committee to discuss this (tariff) issue?’ or ‘Are related discussions scheduled to take place before President-elect Trump takes office in January next year?’
In response, Spokesperson Mao said, “We have no information to provide,” but emphasized, “In principle, we are always open to dialogue and communication.”
◾️ “No one can win the trade and tariff war”
Earlier, the Chinese Embassy in the United States criticized President-elect Trump.
On the 25th, Chinese Embassy Spokesperson Liu Fengyu retweeted (resent) a related article through the social media .
He added, “No one can win a trade war or a tariff war.”
◾️ Refuting the fentanyl issue
Spokesperson Liu then refuted President-elect Trump’s statement that China was not making sufficient efforts to block the flow of fentanyl, a synthetic drug, into the United States and that additional tariffs would be imposed until the problem is resolved.
“After the San Francisco summit (November last year), Chinese and U.S. drug enforcement authorities resumed regular communication,” he said. “The Chinese side notified the U.S. of the progress of the U.S.-related drug crackdown and asked them to check for leads in specific cases.” “We also took action on the request,” he said.
He continued, “All of these facts prove that the claim that China is deliberately allowing fentanyl raw materials to enter the United States is completely contrary to facts and reality.”
◾️ Trump-Trudeau call
The Canadian government has shown a more active willingness to negotiate.
The New York Times and BBC reported the next day (26th) that a few hours after the announcement of the additional tariff plan on the 25th, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau personally called President-elect Trump and spoke.
A Canadian official said that during this phone call, the two “talked about trade and border issues.”
The call lasted about 10 minutes and was a “good conversation” and “constructive discussion,” the official added.
Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc issued a joint statement.
“Today our relationship is balanced and mutually beneficial, especially for American workers,” they said in a statement.
The Canadian government then said, “We will continue to discuss these issues with the incoming (US) administration.”
◾️ Sheinbaum letter sent
In Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum sent a letter directly requesting dialogue.
President Sheinbaum told the media that he sent a letter to President-elect Trump right after he revealed his plan to impose additional tariffs on the 25th.
President Sheinbaum explained in the letter that “dialogue is the best option.”
Mexico’s Treasury Department issued a separate statement.
In this statement, the Treasury Department emphasized that the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade agreement signed during Trump’s first term, provides “certainty” to investors.
USMCA is a successor to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which allows trade in goods and services without tariffs between the three North American countries.
◾️ 10% additional tariff on China
On the 25th, President-elect Trump announced that on January 20th, next year, his first day in office, he would sign an executive order imposing an additional 10% tariff on China in addition to the existing tariff.
President-elect Trump said through the social media TruthSocial, “We have had several conversations with China about large quantities of drugs, especially fentanyl, being imported into the United States, but to no avail.” “They said they would impose a sentence, but unfortunately they have not implemented it,” he pointed out.
“Drugs are flowing into the United States at unprecedented levels, primarily through Mexico,” he said. “Until they stop, we will impose a 10% tariff on all products coming into the United States from China, on top of existing additional tariffs.” .
◾️ Canada/Mexico 25%
President-elect Trump also announced that he would impose a 25% tariff on all products from Mexico and Canada.
“These tariffs will remain in effect until drugs, especially fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop invading our country,” President-elect Trump explained.
“Both countries (Canada and Mexico) have the absolute right and authority to easily resolve long-simmering issues,” he added, adding, “We demand that they use this authority.”
In addition, President-elect Trump said, “Until that happens, they will have to pay a very high price.”
VOA News
**What are the potential long-term consequences for global economic stability if these tariff threats escalate into a full-blown trade war, and what steps can the international community take to mitigate these risks?**
## World Today News: US Tariff Threats – A Global Crossroads
**Editor:** Welcome to World Today News. We’re here today to delve into the recent announcement by President-elect Donald Trump regarding new tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico. Joining us are [Guest 1 Name], an expert in international trade relations, and [Guest 2 Name], a specialist in US-China relations. We appreciate you both being here. Let’s begin.
**Section 1: The Tariff Storm Brewing**
* **Editor:** President-elect Trump’s announcement has sent shockwaves through the global economic landscape. [Guest 1], from your perspective, what are the potential ramifications of these proposed tariffs, not just for the countries directly affected but for the global economy as a whole?
* **Editor:** [Guest 2], focusing on the US-China dynamic, how do you see China responding to this threat? Trump has mentioned past conversations regarding fentanyl. Can these talks pave the way for a diplomatic solution, or are we headed towards a full-blown trade war?
**Section 2: Canada and Mexico: Open for Negotiation?**
* **Editor:** Let’s shift our focus to Canada and Mexico. While both countries have expressed a willingness to negotiate, the tone from the Trump administration is quite assertive. [Guest 1], do you see these tariffs as bargaining chips or a prelude to a stricter, more protectionist trade policy from the US?
* **Editor:** [Guest 2], President-elect Trump links these tariffs to the issue of fentanyl trafficking, stating that both Canada and Mexico have the “authority” to stop it. Do you believe this is a legitimate link to make, and is this framing likely to be effective in achieving the desired outcome?
**Section 3: The Long-Term Impact: A Global Perspective**
* **Editor:** Looking ahead, these tariff announcements have the potential to reshape global trade relationships. [Guest 1], what are some of the long-term consequences we might see, particularly for developing countries and emerging markets heavily dependent on trade with the US?
* **Editor:** [Guest 2], the USMCA, which replaced NAFTA, is meant to ensure stability in North American trade. How might these new tariffs impact the effectiveness of this agreement and the future of economic cooperation between these three nations?
**Section 4: The Way Forward: Finding Common Ground**
* **Editor:** looking towards the future, what steps can be taken to de-escalate this trade tension and avoid an all-out trade war? [Guest 1], what role can international organizations and diplomatic channels play in mediating this issue?
* **Editor:** [Guest 2], given the complex web of economic and political factors at play, what advice would you give to both the US and its trading partners as they navigate this challenging landscape?
**Editor:** Thank you both for your insightful contributions. This is a rapidly evolving situation, and we will continue to follow developments closely.
