Politics

Trump Accuses China Of Trying To Interfere In US Elections With Tariffs

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Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
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President Donald Trump accused China of attempting to interfere in U.S. elections by targeting certain U.S. products for retaliatory tariffs.

Trump’s tweet comes just hours after leveling tariffs on China for failure to comply with U.S. demands of greater access for American companies and reducing intellectual property theft. The tariffs will target 200 billion dollars of Chinese goods at 10 percent until the end of the year after which they will rise to 25 percent.

“If China takes retaliatory action against our farmers or other industries, we will immediately pursue phase three, which is tariffs on approximately $267 billion of additional imports,” Trump declared in a Monday evening statement.

Trump leveled the tariffs under his authority as commander-in-chief citing national security, saying, “After a thorough study, the USTR concluded that China is engaged in numerous unfair policies and practices relating to United States technology and intellectual property — such as forcing United States companies to transfer technology to Chinese counterparts. These practices plainly constitute a grave threat to the long-term health and prosperity of the United States economy.”

Chinese officials have previously refused to back down on any tariffs leveled by the United States and instead have vowed to match them dollar-for-dollar. Officials have also indicated they will target U.S. agricultural goods in states politically favorable to Trump in order to roil the U.S. political system.