Donald Trump said he would hit cars made in Mexico by Chinese companies with a 100% tariff, double the tax he previously said he would impose on cars made south of the US border.
Trump addressed Chinese President Xi Jinping directly during a speech in Dayton, Ohio on Saturday, threatening tariffs.
“Those big, monstrous car manufacturing plants that you’re building in Mexico right now and you think you’re going to get them — don’t hire Americans and then sell us the car, no,” Trump said. “We will apply a 100% fee to every car that passes through the lot.”
He went on to say it would be a “bloodbath” if he didn’t win this year’s US presidential election.
Earlier this month Trump threatened a 50% tariff on Chinese cars. He also proposed tariffs of up to 60% on all Chinese goods and up to 10% on those made anywhere in the world. He said he was not worried about retaliatory measures by China or other countries.
“You screw us and we will screw you,” he said. “It’s very simple, very fair.”
Trump clinched the Republican Party’s nomination Tuesday night, allowing him to fully turn his attention toward a rematch with President Joe Biden in November. Biden won enough delegates for the Democratic nomination on Tuesday.
The former president, despite facing four criminal cases, has only tightened his grip on the GOP in his third run for the White House. The Republican National Committee is now led by three close allies, including his daughter-in-law Lara Trump as co-chair. The reorganization on Monday saw more than 60 staff members made redundant.
Trump’s rally on Saturday brought him into a once-traditional swing state where his populist message brought him easy victories in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.
This year, Ohio is also hosting a Senate race that will be critical to Democratic hopes of maintaining control of the chamber. Republicans face a three-way race in the March 19 state primary for a candidate to face Democrat Sherrod Brown in the general election.
Trump endorsed tech executive Bernie Moreno for the Senate seat, putting him at odds with Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who supported Matt Dolan, a moderate who did not seek Trump’s support. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is also running.
Moreno, who attended Saturday’s rally, called Trump a “great American.” Trump also attacked Dolan, calling him “the next Mitt Romney” and claiming that he is embracing “woke left-wing crazies.”
Trump demonstrated his hold on Ohio Republicans in the Senate race two years ago when he supported J.D. Vance, propelling him to a come-from-behind victory in the Republican primary and a victory in the general election.