Trump threatens further tariffs of $267 bn on China

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said he’s ready to impose tariffs on an additional $267 billion in Chinese goods on short notice, on top of a proposed $200 bn that his administration is putting the final touches on.

The implementation of tariffs on $200 billion of products from China “will take place very soon depending on what happens,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Friday. “I hate to do this, but behind that there is another $267 bn ready to go on short notice if I want.”

Trump latest tariffs threats, if he follows through, would more than cover the value of all goods the US buys from China, according to US government data. The US imported $505 bn of Chinese products in 2017, Census Bureau figures show.

The Trump administration has already slapped duties on $50 billion of Chinese exports since July, which spurred immediate in-kind retaliation from Beijing. China has said it would be forced to retaliate to all of the US’S tariff measures, fanning concerns that a deepening trade war could dent the global economic outlook.

Members of the public had until Thursday to comment on the administration’s plan to slap tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods, ranging from bicycles and baseball gloves to cameras.

CALLS ON SESSIONS TO PROBE NEW YORK TIMES

In freewheeling remarks at the Air Force One, Trump also called on attorney general Jeff Sessions to investigate The New York Times, which published a column by an anonymous official raising questions about his fitness for office. The column should be investigated as a national security matter, Trump said, adding he was weighing on taking action against NYT.

Trump also said he was open to be interviewed by the investigators probing possible collusion between his campaign and Russia “under certain circumstances,” but did not want to get caught in a “perjury trap.”

“I think that if we’re going to meet it’s got to be a fair meeting,” he said. “I don’t want to be set up with a perjury trap.”

Trump also said he was North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which he believes will be positive, is on its way to him. “It was handed at the border ... yesterday,” he said. AGENCIES