U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the United States would impose an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports, set to go into effect on March 4. This new tariff is part of the U.S.'s ongoing trade conflict with China, which has already seen the implementation of tariffs on billions of dollars in goods from the country. Trump’s decision was driven by what he described as "unacceptable" levels of drug smuggling, particularly fentanyl, which he claims is entering the U.S. through China, Mexico, and Canada.

China, in turn, has strongly condemned the additional 10% tariff, reiterating its stance that the U.S. should address its own domestic issues like the opioid crisis, rather than blaming other countries. The Chinese government has also hinted at retaliatory measures against U.S. products in response to Trump’s latest tariff hike. Beijing previously imposed tariffs on U.S. goods such as agricultural machinery and coal in retaliation to the initial round of U.S. tariffs.

Trump’s threat of the new tariff on China marks the latest chapter in a trade battle that has been intensifying for years. In a social media post, the President reiterated his stance on the fentanyl issue, asserting that "until the problem of fentanyl is seriously limited or stopped," the tariff hikes on China and neighboring countries will proceed as planned. The U.S. has long accused China of not doing enough to curb the production of fentanyl.

This move comes just days before the previously delayed tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico are set to take effect. Initially, Trump had postponed the 25% tariffs on these countries, which were intended to address concerns over illegal immigration and drug trafficking. However, with the issue of fentanyl still unresolved in Trump’s eyes, the administration is moving forward with the full scope of the tariffs as originally planned for March 4. This has raised concerns in both Canada and Mexico.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum have both expressed their opposition to the tariffs, with Trudeau emphasizing that less than 1% of fentanyl entering the U.S. comes from Canada. Sheinbaum, meanwhile, has voiced hope that ongoing talks with the U.S. will result in a compromise before the tariffs are implemented. However, Trump’s social media posts and public statements indicate that he is not backing down, increasing the likelihood of the tariffs taking effect as scheduled.

Economists are warning that these tariffs could have serious repercussions on both global and domestic economies. The U.S. and China are two of the world’s largest economies, and any trade barriers between them could raise the cost of consumer goods. Tariffs on Canada and Mexico, both key U.S. trade partners, could similarly disrupt supply chains, potentially leading to higher prices on everything from cars to agricultural products.