China and Canada are targeting US agricultural exports amid Donald Trump’s trade war against some of the US’s biggest trading partners.
The US president officially imposed tariffs of 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10% levy on Chinese products, on Tuesday.
China retaliated with import fees of up to 15% on a whole range of US agricultural and food goods – many of whom count the Asian nation as their largest market.
Beijing urged Washington to return to the negotiating table but said it would fight “to the bitter end” if Trump continued to penalise its exporters.
Canada also announced 25% tariffs against US food and household items such as orange juice, beer, spirits, wine and coffee.
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau described Trump’s tariffs on his country, as well as China and Mexico, as “very dumb”.
Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum said that her country had contingency measures in place but that she would wait until Sunday to reveal the full response to Trump’s trade attack.
Read more: What does Trump’s tariff showdown mean for UK food and drink?
Stock markets in the US, UK and Asia have all sunk since Tuesday’s announcements and several experts have warned that the levies could lead to higher prices for Americans and potentially spark damage to other economies around the world.
In his inaugural speech to Congress on Tuesday, Trump said the US economy would see “a little disturbance” from his protectionist measures and “there could be an adjustment period”.
Meanwhile, Trump’s secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick hinted that the president might scale back on tariffs and that a “middle ground” with the US’s neighbours could be found.
The EU has condemned the US’s decision. The UK, on the other hand, has remained relatively silent as the Labour government is attempting to land a trade deal that could exempt Britain from the wrath of Trump’s tariffs.
PM Keir Starmer met with the US president in the White House last week as he aimed to influence Trump’s decisions on matters of trade and international relations.
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