Residents of China’s capital expressed indifference and despite Saturday when asked by AFP About the latest threat from US President Donald Trump to impose on the country blistering new tariffs.
On Friday, Trump suddenly announced that the United States would beat another 100% duty on all Chinese imports from November 1 “or before,” also questioning an upcoming meeting with President Xi Jinping.
Chinese authorities have not yet released the threat, as Trump said was in return for Peking’s new export control measures in the strategic rare land sector.
Foreign Ministry did not comment on when asked about it of AFP On Saturday.
“I felt nothing when I first saw the news,” said Liu Ming, a 48-year-old employee of a software business, outside a big Beijing shopping center.
“Trump always has these childish or whimsical policies,” Liu said.
“China is not afraid of any US sanctions or policies aimed at limiting us. We have self -confidence and ability to do better.”
‘Fantastic uprising’
Like other interviewed by AFP On the streets of Beijing on Saturday, Liu Trump sees unstable.
“From a Chinese person’s perspective, he is a little unreliable,” he said.
“He always goes from this policy to this policy and causes great uprising in the world.
“It’s not stable.”
Irene Wang, an insurance worker for thirty, repeated the mood.
“He says one thing today, but maybe after a nap he will change his mind again,” Wang joked.
“At his age (79) he should be a little more composed!”
She thinks the soaring tariffs Trump threatens can beat back.
“For Americans, it could have an impact,” she said, as Customs on Chinese products could increase prices in the United States.
As for the potential influence on people living in China, Wang acknowledged that she couldn’t completely ignore the news.
“Frankly, it’s not the first time, so we’ll have to wait and see how things play out.”
Hope for ‘Normal’
Some residents of the Chinese capital told AFP They only expected a moderate influence on their country’s economy if the trade war with Washington escalates again.
“The import export sector, especially these companies, will inevitably be affected to some extent,” said Jesicca Yu, 40.
But “For ordinary people in China, in the near future, I don’t think much will change in their daily lives,” she said.
Yu also lamented the tense relationship between Beijing and Washington.
“The more peaceful things, the more economic development can take place,” she said.
“We hope things go back to normal.”
Lisa Liu, a colleague of Yu who is in thirty, said she saw a good thing in Trump’s unpredictable approach to governance.
“He gives us a lot to talk about at the dinner table,” she said.
