President Trump has indicated his willingness to intensify his trade war with China by imposing tariffs on all $500bn of imports from the country.

“I’m ready to go to 500,” he said in an interview with the CNBC channel.

It’s time to stop China from “taking advantage” of America, just as a top adviser said the administration will ask allies to pressure Beijing on its trade policies.

Trump has shown no sign of backing down, and his administration had already listed $200bn worth of additional Chinese products it intends to place tariffs on as soon as September.

The list named more than 6,000 items including food products, minerals, and consumer goods such as handbags to be subject to a 10% tariff.

“You have to go after the people who aren’t treating you right,” Trump said recently, “We’re going to have a fantastic relationship long term with China but we have to get this straightened out, we have to have some balance.”

The U.S. and China have already imposed tit-for-tat tariffs of $34bn on each other’s goods.

The President has viewed China’s surplus trade with the U.S. as one of former U.S. administrations’ making.

“After all, who can blame a country for being able to take advantage of another country for benefit of their citizens? I give China great credit.”

“I do blame past administrations for allowing this out-of-control trade deficit to take place and to grow,” Trump said.

“We have to fix this because it just doesn’t work for our great American companies, and it doesn’t work for our great American workers. It is just not sustainable. I look forward to working toward that goal and to pursuing fair and lasting engagement.”

Yvad Billings, Readers Bureau, Fellow

Edited by Jesus Chan

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