U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said he will impose a 10% tariff on all products coming into the U.S. from China on his first day in office as penalties for deadly fentanyl and illegal immigrants, which he claimed were pouring across the borders. Trump’s election victory sparked concern in China, where many expect the next president to take a tougher stand than his predecessor, particularly on trade and economic issues, with repercussions for an already struggling Chinese economy.
“This tariff will remain in effect until such time as drugs, in particular, fentanyl and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, vowing the additional tariff on all Chinese goods, many of which are already under import taxes imposed during the first Trump administration.