Chinese diplomats have said the nation is ready to “fight till the end” on tariffs imposed by US president Donald Trump.
“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,” the Chinese Embassy in US wrote in a post on X.
The embassy was responding to a post from the Chinese foreign office spokesperson, Lin Jian, which described fentanyl as a “flimsy excuse” for the US to raise tariffs on Chinese imports.
“The US, not anyone else, is responsible for the fentanyl crisis inside the US.”
China also revised the complaint it filed against the US with the WTO, including the most recent US measures imposed on 3 March.
Auto-tariffs
The White House said yesterday (5 March) that it would pause the 25% import tariff on autos from Canada and Mexico into the US.
White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told reporters that there would be a one-month exemption for any autos covered under the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA), signed by Trump in his first term.
“Reciprocal tariffs will still go into effect on 2 April,” she added.
Stellantis, Ford and General Motors made a request for this tariff relief, according to Leavitt, who admitted that the request was granted so that the companies were “not at an economic disadvantage.”
Responding to a question from reporters, Leavitt said that Trump was “open” to hearing about additional exemptions.
US Agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins told Bloomberg News that she was “hopeful” that her administration could provide tariff relief for the agriculture sector:
“As far as specific exemptions and carveouts for the agriculture industry, perhaps for potash and fertilizer, et cetera — to be determined.”
‘Lyin’ Trump’
In related trade news, Panama’s president, José Raúl Mulino, accused Trump of lying, after the US president said his administration had “already started” to “reclaim” the Panama Canal.
“A new lie from president Trump,” Mulino said in a post on X, denying that his government had discussed selling the canal.
"I reject, on behalf of Panama and Panamanians, this new affront to the truth and to our dignity as a nation.”
The Panama Canal Authority also said that it was the only body with the authority to adjust fees and other rights of transit through the canal.
