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Former Vice President Mike Pence came out in support of President-elect Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on China, saying that the move is necessary to bring China back to the negotiating table to reverse trade abuse practices, intellectual property theft, and the Chinese government’s increasingly adversarial posture.
Pence made the remarks during an address to the U.S.-based China General Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday night, stating that the threats of additional tariffs on China and other nations are not a bluff and that China must not become the United States’ enemy.
Trump has vowed to impose a 25% tariff on all goods coming from Mexico and Canada until they crack down on border control, and has also said that China can expect an additional 10% tariff until it cracks down on illegal fentanyl smuggling.
Pence acknowledged concerns that tariffs could hurt the economy and lead to a trade war, but said that a firm but fair approach is needed to achieve better relations with China. He also expressed confidence in Trump’s ability to balance respectful diplomacy with hard economic policies.
The Trump administration has imposed tariffs on $80 billion worth of products, and the combined trade war policies in place currently account for $79 billion in active tariffs, amounting to an average annual tax increase of $625 on U.S. households.
