US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday (30) a halving of tariffs imposed on imports from China. According to the president, the measure is related to the policy of combating the entry of fentanyl into American territory. The statements were made aboard Air Force One, during the return trip from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, held in the South Korean city of Busan. The information is from RT Brasil.
“I agreed to impose a 20% tariff on China for fentanyl [into the U.S.], which is a high tariff, and based on today’s statements, I reduced it by 10%,” Trump told reporters. “So it’s 10% instead of 20%,” the president added, noting that the decision takes effect “immediately.”
Meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping
Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the APEC summit at a time of heightened economic tension between the two countries. The meeting, however, ended without a joint statement. Despite this, Trump considered the conversation extremely productive. “On a scale of 0 to 10, the meeting was a 12,” he stated, suggesting an optimistic tone regarding the resumption of bilateral dialogue.
The meeting between the leaders takes place amid an unprecedented trade war, marked by tariffs and trade disputes on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of products, affecting global supply chains and financial markets.
Economic and diplomatic context
The decision to reduce tariffs represents a gesture of détente from Washington, after months of trade friction with Beijing. Fentanyl — a synthetic opioid responsible for tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the United States — has been one of the main points of diplomatic conflict between the two powers. Washington accuses Beijing of not adequately controlling the production and shipment of the substance.
Trump’s gesture may signal an attempt at economic rapprochement, especially in the face of internal pressure from American businesses facing rising costs due to tariffs. Even so, the absence of a joint statement at APEC reveals that the relationship between the two countries remains marked by distrust and strategic competition.
Source: brasil247.com