US DEFENCE Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that the US is “prepared” for war with China in response Beijing’s chilling World War Three threat.
President Trump’s fresh 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada took effect on Tuesday, along with doubled duties on Chinese goods – sparking devastating trade wars.
AFPUS Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth speaks as he meets with Saudi Defense Minister in February[/caption]
APPresident Donald Trump, left, meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2019[/caption]
ReutersUS President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress on Tuesday[/caption]
Trump doubled the tariff on all Chinese imports from 10 per cent to an eye-watering 20 per cent, prompting a chilling warning from Xi Jinping‘s nation.
China’s foreign affairs ministry said: “If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end.”
Hegseth slammed Beijing‘s threat, warning “we’re prepared” and stressing the importance for the US to “be strong” as the tariff scrap continues to dramatically escalate.
The Defence Sec said on Fox News: “Those who long for peace must prepare for war.
“That’s why we’re rebuilding our military. That’s why we’re re-establishing deterrence in the warrior ethos.
“We live in a dangerous world with powerful, ascendant countries with very different ideology.”
Making a nod to Beijing‘s threat, Hegseth added that other nations are “rapidly increasing their defence spending, modern technology, they want to supplant the United States”.
He said: “If we want to deter war with the Chinese or others, we have to be strong.”
In his first address to Congress of his second term, Trump said more crippling tariffs would follow in early April, including “reciprocal tariffs” and non-tariff actions addressing years of trade imbalances.
Citing high duties imposed on US goods by the EU and China among others, Trump said: “Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it’s our turn.”
The steep tariffs on the United States‘ three largest trading partners came into effect at 12:01 am on Tuesday – igniting a trade war that has seen swift retaliation measures from Canada and China.
Trump believes China has not done enough to stop the production of chemicals used to make the drug fentanyl.
China slammed the Republican over the claim and described fentanyl as America’s problem.
The country has also said the tariffs are a “serious violation” of World Trade Organisation rules and lodged a WTO dispute complaint in February.
China responded to Tuesday’s tariffs by announcing 15 per cent additional tariffs on key US farm products.
These include chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton from the US, as well as 10 per cent tariffs on imports of sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, said the country will “fight till the end”.
“I want to reiterate that the Chinese people have never feared evil or ghosts, nor have we ever bowed to hegemony or bullying,” Jian said.
AFPChina’s President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference[/caption]
AlamyA cargo container ship sails across Rambler Channel near Lantau Island[/caption]
“Pressure, coercion and threats are not the right ways to engage with China.
“Trying to exert maximum pressure on China is miscalculation and a mistake.”
Trump‘s sweeping tariffs will have wide-ranging implications for American businesses and consumers.
US shoppers may soon encounter price hikes on several categories of goods, including vehicles, clothing, toys and gadgets, and groceries and alcohol.
The United States gets 75 per cent of its imported toys and sports equipment from China.
Meanwhile, cars sold in the US are built largely in plants in either Canada or Mexico.
Trump defended his stance, writing in a Truth Social post, “If companies move to the United States, there are no tariffs!!!”
Why has Trump hit China with tariffs?
DONALD Trump signed an executive order promising to hit Chinese imports to the US with a tariff of 10 per cent before doubling it to 20. But why did he propose the levies?
Tariffs are an integral part of Trump’s economic plans, which he thinks will not only elevate US manufacturing, protect jobs and raise tax revenue, but grow the the economy as a whole.
The Republican has slammed China, believing the nation has done little to prevent or stop the production of chemicals used to make the drug, fentanyl.
When he first announced the tariff plans on goods from China, Mexico and Canada, the President said he looked to hold them “accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country”.
China responded to Trump’s claim, claiming that fentanyl was America’s problem.
And in regards to the crippling tariffs, China dubbed them a “serious violation” of the World Trade Organisation rules.
In February, the nation initiated a WTO dispute complaint regarding the tariff measures.
China serves as a major supplier of auto parts to the US.
Phones and computers along with other key electronic devices were also in the top imports from China last year, according to Commerce Department Data.
In 2023, the US imported around $427 billion worth of products from China in total, according to the US Census Bureau.
Data reveals that 78 per cent of all smartphones imported from the US came from China.
Trump’s tariff threat has sparked fears of price rises for fashion items and toys.
Beijing has responded by outlining its own tariffs on American goods, sparking fears of an all-out trade war between the two powerhouses.
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