Vice President Mike Pence defended the Trump administration’s imposition of tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods, saying that it was necessary because of the “tremendous barriers” Beijing put on companies entering its market.

That $250 billion figure could potentially double, Pence said in his remarks Saturday at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Papua New Guinea. Pence addressed the gathering of political and business leaders from 21 Pacific Rim nations and territories early Saturday.

The tariffs have sparked a trade war between the two largest economies in the world.

Pence continued to defend the tariffs by claiming that China is engaging in unfair practices such as “forced technology transfer, intellectual property theft and industrial subsidies on an unprecedented scale.”

“The United States will not change course until China changes its ways,” Pence said, adding that Washington could offer other countries a better economic partnership than Beijing.

Pence's comments come shortly after President Trump signaled Friday the U.S. could hold off on implementing more tariffs on Chinese goods if the two nations can reach a reciprocal trade deal.