China state media dismiss Trump's tariff vow, focus on fentanyl

BEIJING — 

China's authorities media shrugged disconnected U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's pledge to slap further tariffs connected Chinese goods successful editorials precocious connected Tuesday, accusing the erstwhile president of blaming China for the country's nonaccomplishment to code the fentanyl crisis.

Trump, who takes bureau connected Jan. 20, said connected Monday helium would enforce "an further 10% tariff, supra immoderate further tariffs" connected imports from China. He antecedently said helium would present tariffs successful excess of 60% connected Chinese goods.

The tariff menace is rattling China's concern complex, which sells goods worthy much than $400 cardinal annually to the U.S. and hundreds of billions much successful components for products Americans bargain from elsewhere.

Economists person begun downgrading their maturation targets for the $19 trillion system for 2025 and 2026.

Editorials successful Chinese communist enactment mouthpieces China Daily and the Global Times focused squarely connected the crushed Trump gave for imposing the tariffs: fentanyl.

"Scapegoating others can't extremity U.S.' cause crisis," work the header of a China Daily editorial connected Tuesday, portion the Global Times urged the "U.S. not to instrumentality China's goodwill for granted regarding anti-drug practice aft Trump's remarks."

"The excuse the president-elect has fixed to warrant his menace of further tariffs connected imports from China is farfetched," China Daily said. "The satellite sees intelligibly that the basal origin of the fentanyl situation successful the U.S. lies with the U.S. itself," it added.

"There are nary winners successful tariff wars. If the U.S. continues to politicize economical and commercialized issues by weaponizing tariffs, it volition permission nary enactment unscathed."

Trump's squad maintains China is “attacking” the U.S. with fentanyl.

China is the ascendant root of chemic precursors utilized by Mexican cartels to nutrient the deadly drug. Trump connected Monday besides pledged 25% tariffs connected goods coming from Mexico and Canada until they clamp down connected drugs and migrants crossing the border.

Trump is threatening Beijing with acold higher tariffs than the 7.5%-25% levied connected Chinese goods during his archetypal term.

S&P Global connected Sunday lowered its maturation forecast for China for 2025 and 2026 by 0.2 and 0.7 percent point, respectively, to 4.1% and 3.8%, citing the interaction Trump's tariffs could have.

"What we assumed successful our baseline is an across-the-board summation from astir 14% present to 25%. Thus, what we assumed is simply a spot much than the 10% connected each imports from China," said Louis Kuijs, Chief Asia Economist astatine S&P Global Ratings. "For now, the lone happening we cognize for definite is that the risks successful this country are high."