Trump 'sold us out on China': Presidential debate on trade and tariffs

• Trump defended his decision to impose higher trade duties on China, including tariffs of up to 100%.
• Trump had been "betrayed" by Harris, who argued that the focus of policy should be on winning the competitions of the 21st century, particularly in the areas of AI and quantum computing.

During the ABC News presidential debate on Tuesday night, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump disagreed on China policy.

Trump defended his decision to impose higher trade duties on China, including tariffs ranging from 10% to 20% and additional tariffs of 60% to 100%.

The former president stated that after 75 years, other countries will finally pay us back for all we've done for the world, and the tariff will be substantial. He added that his administration had received "billions and billions of dollars" from China.

The Biden-Harris administration retained many of the Trump administration's tariffs on China.

"Because it was so much money, they never removed the tariff. It would ruin everything they've worked for if they couldn't pay it," he stated.

Trump also downplayed concerns that his tariff policy would increase prices for consumers.

"China and the countries that have been exploiting us for years will experience higher prices and consequences."

Meanwhile, Harris argued that the Trump administration was weak on China.

Harris stated that during Trump's presidency, he sold American chips to China to enhance their military, which may be related to the current administration's increased efforts to limit the sale of advanced semiconductors to adversaries.

She accused him of betraying the United States by supporting a policy that would allow China to win the competition for the 21st century.

"To win the race, we must prioritize building strong relationships with our allies, investing in American-based technology, particularly in AI and quantum computing, and supporting America's workforce."

While Trump's economic policy on China in a second term is predicted to center on heavy trade tariffs, Harris is expected to concentrate on targeted restrictions in conjunction with U.S. allies.