China reacts angrily to new Trump tariff, says U.S. addiction is driving fentanyl problem

China is reacting angrily to President Trump’s pledge to impose an additional 10% tariff on its products, saying fentanyl is America’s “own problem.”

Mr. Trump said the levy will take effect on Tuesday alongside a 25% tariff on products from Canada and Mexico. The Chinese tariff comes on top of a previously announced 10% tariff on products from the Asian superpower, ratcheting up tensions as the U.S. president says the trio of nations are letting deadly opioids pour into American communities.

“China deplores and opposes this move, and will take what is necessary to firmly defend its legitimate interests,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Friday. “The fentanyl issue is just an excuse the U.S. uses to impose tariffs on, pressure and blackmail China, and they punish us for helping them. This will not solve their concerns.”

Tariffs are a tax or duty paid by importers on the goods they bring in from foreign markets.

Mr. Trump says tariffs are a great way to force companies to return to America or keep their operations in the U.S., employ American workers and create revenue to fund domestic programs.

But tariffs can also result in higher prices for consumers.

Foreign countries don’t pay the tariffs directly to the Treasury. In many cases, U.S. companies will pay the levies, and they might pass on at least some of the cost to consumers through higher prices.

Chinese manufacturers make precursor chemicals for fentanyl that reach Mexico, where cartels finish the drug product and send it to U.S. communities. A tiny percentage is seized at the Canadian border but the White House stressed that domestic production is increasing in Canada and even small amounts can kill in large numbers.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday his country would retaliate if “unjustified” tariffs went forward.

“We will have an immediate and extremely strong response, as Canadians expect,” Mr. Trudeau said.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also said her officials were trying to reach a deal with U.S. counterparts to head off the tariffs.

On Friday, Mr. Lin said China agreed to officially restrict fentanyl-related substances at Mr. Trump’s request in 2019. It also struck a deal with President Biden to crack down on the flow of precursor chemicals.

“China has conducted counternarcotics cooperation with the U.S. side in a broad-based and in-depth way. The remarkable progress is there for all to see,” Mr. Lin said. “Pressuring, coercion and threat is not the right way to deal with China. Instead, mutual respect is the basic prerequisite.”

Mr. Trump said there hasn’t been nearly enough progress and that families are being destroyed by tens of thousands of overdose deaths each year in the U.S.

Countries like China and Mexico have suggested the U.S. is to blame for its crisis because too many people are addicted to drugs.

“China is one of the world’s strictest countries on counternarcotics both in terms of policy and its implementation,” Mr. Lin said. “The fentanyl issue is the U.S.’ own problem.”