White House says new tariffs on China are 'defensive' to protect U.S. businesses and workers

President Trump’s move to impose more tariffs on Chinese products is a “purely defensive” action to prevent China’s deliberate takeover of U.S. technology and intellectual property, the White House said Tuesday.

White House economic adviser Peter Navarro said Mr. Trump’s announcement of a new round of potential tariffs came after lengthy trade talks with Beijing showed no progress in reducing the U.S. trade deficit of $376 billion with China.

“None of these efforts by the president and his team have resulted in any progress on the two core issues facing the U.S.-China relationship,” Mr. Navarro told reporters, citing the trade imbalance and China’s campaign to acquire U.S. technology “by any means necessary.”

“The actions President Trump has taken are purely defensive in nature,” he said.

Mr. Trump announced Monday night that he has ordered the U.S. Trade Representative to draw up a list of $200 billion in Chinese goods that would face a 10 percent tariff, if Beijing proceeds with its own retaliatory tariffs on $50 billion worth of U.S. goods.