Trump has linked the levies to irregular immigration and cross-border flows of the opioid fentanyl, which has driven a surge in overdose deaths in the U.S.
Beijing pushed back, saying: “China hopes that the U.S. side will objectively and rationally look at and deal with its own fentanyl issue and other issues, rather than threatening other countries by means of tariffs at every turn.”
China’s statement is far less specific than the immediate responses from Mexico and Canada, whose leaders ordered countermeasures on Saturday. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Ottawa would impose 25 percent tariffs on goods worth roughly $21 billion starting Tuesday and more later this month.
Meanwhile, Japan on Sunday expressed fears about the consequences of Trump’s tariffs for the global economy. Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato told Japanese television that “we’re deeply concerned about how these tariffs could affect the world’s economy … Japan needs to scrutinize these policies and their effects, and take appropriate measures.”
