President Donald Trump speaks from the South Lawn of the White House on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Washington. (ALEX BRANDON / AP)

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that if he was re-elected, his administration would impose tariffs on any company that leaves the United States to create jobs elsewhere.

In May, he threatened to impose new taxes on American companies that produce goods outside the United States

“We will impose tariffs on any company that leaves America to produce jobs overseas,” Trump said in his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. 

ALSO READ: Trump assails rival Biden in speech accepting nomination

Trump portrayed himself as having been willing to challenge China on trade during his speech to the party faithful and asserted his Democratic rival in the November election, Joe Biden, would not be as tough.

The former real estate developer spent much of his first term waging a trade war against China over its trade practices, technology transfer and industrial policies, imposing punitive tariffs on US$370 billion worth of Chinese imports.

In May, he threatened to impose new taxes on American companies that produce goods outside the United States.

READ MORE: Trump nominated, says Democrats will 'steal election'

Trump made a similar comment last week during a campaign event in Pennsylvania, when he said: “We will give tax credits to companies to bring jobs back to America. And if they don’t do it, we will put tariffs on those companies and they will have to pay us a lot of money.”