White House officials have said that President Donald Trump has “made up his mind” on pushing ahead with $50 billion of fresh tariffs for Chinese tech and manufacturing imports, after meeting with trade representatives and national security officials on Thursday.
The US Trade Representative’s Office, headed by Robert Lighthizer, plans to unveil the list of goods to be hit by the duties on Friday, sources told the Wall Street Journal. A preliminary list was issued in April, mostly including products pertaining to China’s ambitions to modernise its manufacturing sector.
Exactly when the tariffs will take effect is unknown.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a news conference with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that out of a choice between cooperation and confrontation, “China chooses the first.”
“We hope the US side can also make the same wise choice,” he added. “Of course, we have also made preparations to respond to the second kind of choice.”