Potential taxes on Chinese products might be announced by Trump

Washington: According to Radio Free Asia, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that tariffs on Chinese goods could begin as soon as February 1, 2025. This move follows Trump’s previous campaign pledge to impose tariffs of up to 60 percent on Chinese imports. Initially, Trump had planned to implement a 10 percent duty on Chinese products on his first day in office.

Trump cited the issue of fentanyl being sent from China to Mexico and Canada as a key reason for the tariffs, emphasizing their importance for supporting local industries. He mentioned a phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which he expressed concerns over the fentanyl trade, stating, “We don’t want that crap in our country.”

This announcement comes amid an ongoing effort by both the U.S. and China to curb the supply of fentanyl precursors. The Biden administration had made progress with China in this regard, especially following a meeting between Biden and Xi in 2023. However, Trump suggested that China’s actions had not been sufficient in addressing the issue. Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, is responsible for thousands of deaths annually in the U.S., with precursors sourced from China and processed into the drug in Mexico before being trafficked into the United States.

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