“The ball is in the China camp. By relying on the trade war with Beijing head on, Donald Trump is responsible for appeasement on his Asian rival. On Tuesday, his spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that the American president “remains open to an agreement”, but that “it is China that needs an agreement with the United States”, not the reverse. “They want what we have: the American consumer,” she said, summarizing the new structure of the White House.
In this showdown, Beijing was quick to reply. China has suspended Boeing deliveries and asked its airlines to stop any purchase of equipment and spare parts from American companies. On his Truth Social network, Donald Trump denounced a “withdrawal on a huge agreement with Boeing”, despite “firm commitments”.
American agriculture targeted by China
The Chinese offensive does not stop there: Beijing is now attacking American agriculture, since refusing since mid-March to renew the licenses of the majority of bovine meat exporters to China. Information confirmed by their federation.
Donald Trump continues to harden the tone on trade with China. He imposed up to 145 % customs duties on Chinese products – a new price salvo which is added to the measures already in place. Beijing, in return, now applies a rate of 125 %. However, the American president has excluded certain sensitive sectors such as smartphones, computers and semiconductors, mainly imported from China.
Xi Jinping on tour in Southeast Asia
Meanwhile, Xi Jinping continues a diplomatic tour in Southeast Asia to coordinate a regional response to American sanctions.
Our file on customs duties
The confrontation could still intensify. According to the Minister of Commerce, Howard Lunick, Donald Trump is considering new 25 % taxes on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals “within one or two months”.
