http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jun/19/white-house-says-new-tariffs-china-are-defensive-p/

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.