The White House reaffirmed on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump has taken a tough stance on China, especially regarding the imposition of tariffs.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made these remarks after Trump announced his decision to double tariffs on all Chinese imports, raising them from 10 percent to 20 percent.
“The President has been very tough on China, not just now with 20 percent and more with the reciprocal tariffs that will take effect on April 2nd, but also when you look at what he did in his first term. There were billions of dollars’ worth of tariffs he implemented on China, and it’s quite telling that the previous administration did not rescind those tariffs because they realised their value—not only in deterring China but also in raising revenue here in the United States,” Leavitt said.
Leavitt echoed the views of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who stated that the country remains prepared to defend itself amid China’s assertive rhetoric. This came after Beijing declared it was ready to fight “any” type of war, whether it be tariff-related or trade-focused.
“Secretary Hegseth made it clear that America will always be prepared to defend itself, especially under the leadership of this President in the Oval Office. That certainly remains true when it comes to tariffs as well,” Leavitt added.
Earlier, the New York Post reported that Defense Secretary Hegseth warned of potential conflict with China following Beijing’s sharp response to Trump’s new tariffs.
“If we want to deter war with the Chinese or others, we have to be strong,” Hegseth said, as quoted by the New York Post.
Reacting to the US tariffs, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded with a strong statement. “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,” Lin said.
China swiftly retaliated against the fresh US tariffs, announcing import duty hikes of 10 percent to 15 percent on a range of American agricultural and food products.
Addressing other issues related to China, Leavitt also spoke about US concerns over the Panama Canal, highlighting Trump’s determination to prevent Chinese influence in the region.
“The President was very vocal several weeks ago about the need to ensure that China is not controlling the Panama Canal. This is a very important strategic location for the United States of America,” Leavitt said.
She concluded by emphasizing that Trump will continue efforts to prevent the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from gaining influence in the Western Hemisphere, particularly in critical areas like the Panama Canal.
