Sullivan Defends US Tariffs on China, Says Past Policies Failed

‘To prevent a second China shock, we’ve had to act,’ national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on Aug. 29, 2024. Adek Berry/AFP via Getty Images

WASHINGTON—White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Oct. 23 defended U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, stating that they helped prevent another “China shock.”

In May, the Biden administration stated it would continue existing Trump-era tariffs on Chinese goods while imposing new duties on $18 billion of imports in strategic sectors, including electric vehicles.