US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would impose an added 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports while moving ahead with levies on Canada and Mexico next week, citing "unacceptable" fentanyl smuggling.
Trump had announced – then halted – sweeping 25 percent levies on Canadian and Mexican imports this month over illegal immigration and deadly fentanyl, with Canadian energy to face a lower rate.
But the month-long pause ends next Tuesday.
Following reporters' questions on whether he planned to proceed on the tariffs next week, Trump wrote on social media Thursday that until the problem of fentanyl stops "or is seriously limited," the proposed levies will happen as scheduled.
"China will likewise be charged an additional 10 percent tariff on that date," he added.
Earlier this month, Trump already imposed a sweeping 10 percent tariff hike on imports from China, prompting Beijing to retaliate.
A US official confirmed to AFP that the new 10 percent levy adds to the existing one over fentanyl, saying that there has been "insufficient progress" on the drug front.
The official added that Washington had to act against all three countries in order to tackle the fentanyl issue.
On Thursday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she hoped to speak with Trump to avoid being hit by his threatened tariffs.
And the head of a Canadian business council warned Wednesday that Trump's threats have fundamentally altered trade ties between the neighbors – so much so that a North American free trade pact could be doomed.
Reciprocal tariffs
Besides levies over fentanyl, Trump added on Truth Social that an April 2 date for so-called reciprocal tariffs "will remain in full force and effect."
These will be tailored to each US trading partner, with details to come after government agencies complete studies that Trump has called for on trade issues.
"How you treat us is how you get treated," said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in a Fox News interview Wednesday about the reciprocal levies.
In early February, China's foreign ministry expressed firm opposition to Washington's tariff hike "under the pretext" of fentanyl.
"The US needs to view and solve its own fentanyl issue" instead of taking aim at other countries with levies, the ministry added.
At the time, Beijing additionally warned that fresh tariffs could hurt counternarcotics cooperation between both sides.
Last week, top Washington and Beijing economic officials also raised mutual concerns on trade and economic issues during an introductory call, including on counternarcotics and tariffs.
Beiyi Seow, with AFP
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