US president Donald Trump took to Twitter on Sunday, May 5, 2019, to threaten China that he would increase tariffs from 10 to 25 per cent from Friday.
Trump also tweeted that he was not satisfied with the pace of the trade negotiations.
Trump made a similar threat in September last year but postponed a January 1, 2019, implementation after he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed on a tariff ceasefire and additional negotiations to end the trade war.
Trump’s tweets promising tariffs on US$200 billion of imports from China come just after the 10th round of trade talks in Beijing last week, and just ahead of the trip to Washington by Vice-Premier Liu He.
China is reportedly reconsidering its options as Beijing’s top trade envoy was set to be in the US capital this week for what was widely expected to be the closing round of the Sino-American trade talks.
The tariff war started in July 2018 when Washington levied its first round of punitive tariffs on Chinese imports.
