Trump mulls cooking oil ban as China boycotts American soybeans
發佈日期: 2025-10-15 20:44
TVB News



U.S. President Donald Trump said he was considering terminating some business with China in relation to cooking oil, as a retaliation to its soybean snub. His criticism follows a 100 percent tariff threat last week that cast doubt on the status of trade talks.
Trump's trade representative said the imposition of the steep levies depends on China's action.
Donald Trump wrote on social media that his administration was weighing up forms of "retribution," such as ending business with China on cooking oil and other elements of trade.
He blamed Beijing for "purposefully not buying" their soybeans and causing difficulty for American farmers.
It's an "economically hostile act," Trump said in the statement, and claimed Americans can easily produce cooking oil themselves and don't need to purchase it from China.
Hours later, Trump told visiting President of Argentina at the White House that Washington needs to be careful with Beijing on trade.
"We have to be careful with China. Look, I have a great relationship with President Xi (Jinping), but sometimes it gets tested because China likes to take advantage of people, and they can't take advantage of us. But we have a fair relationship with China, and I think it will be fine."
This as China, the world's top buyer of soybeans, pivoted to Brazilian and Argentine produce in recent months and started to charge tit-for-tat port fees for U.S. vessels. Trump said China "likes to draw wedges."
(Reporter: And China on the port fees?)
Trump replied: "China, China, likes to draw wedges. Yeah sure. I guess that's natural. It's China, and it's natural, but it's not going to mean anything in the end."
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a CNBC interview that China's action will determine whether the 100 percent tariffs will be imposed.
Greer said: "A lot depends on what the Chinese do, they are the ones who have chosen to make this major escalation," apparently referring to Beijing's sweeping restrictions on rare earth exports announced last week.
On Monday, a meeting between senior officials from both sides was held in Washington on the rare earth dispute.
Greer said he thinks they would be able to work through it.
He added that Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are still scheduled to meet, though he suggested the plan may be subject to changes.

