WASHINGTON: People close to President-elect Donald Trump are floating a possibility of imposing a five per cent tax on imports through executive action, media reports said on Thursday as a China trade critic is tipped to lead a new trade council inside the White House.

According to CNN, the inner circle of Mr Trump has told the channel that incoming Chief of Staff for the new President has been telling business leaders that Mr Trump is considering a 5pc tax on imports, though the proposal, according to the sources quoted by CNN, has met with opposition from those who heard it.

Mr Trump during his election campaign has vowed to bring back jobs to America, criticizing American companies which relocated to other countries to save taxes and labour cost for manufacturing items that are exported back to the United States.

He has also talked about imposing tariff on imports to counter what he has called unfair trade deals with countries. He has vowed to impose as much as 35pc tax on goods exported to the country and manufactured by companies which moved jobs overseas.

The President-elect, who is to take office on Jan 20, can impose the tariff through an executive action.-APPWASHINGTON: People close to President-elect Donald Trump are floating a possibility of imposing a five per cent tax on imports through executive action, media reports said on Thursday as a China trade critic is tipped to lead a new trade council inside the White House.

According to CNN, the inner circle of Mr Trump has told the channel that incoming Chief of Staff for the new President has been telling business leaders that Mr Trump is considering a 5pc tax on imports, though the proposal, according to the sources quoted by CNN, has met with opposition from those who heard it.

Mr Trump during his election campaign has vowed to bring back jobs to America, criticizing American companies which relocated to other countries to save taxes and labour cost for manufacturing items that are exported back to the United States.

He has also talked about imposing tariff on imports to counter what he has called unfair trade deals with countries. He has vowed to impose as much as 35pc tax on goods exported to the country and manufactured by companies which moved jobs overseas.

The President-elect, who is to take office on Jan 20, can impose the tariff through an executive action.-APP