President Donald Trump has expressed a willingness to significantly reduce the current 145% tariff rate on China ahead of impending trade negotiations. In a post on Truth Social, he suggested that an 80% tariff might be appropriate, referencing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent before trade discussions set to take place in Geneva with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Chinese officials. Trump acknowledged the possibility of lowering the tariff but hinted that it wouldn’t go any higher.
An 80% tariff would still be substantially greater than the duties enforced before Trump’s presidency, which began with a 20% levy against China for its inaction on fentanyl trafficking, later escalating to 125%. Trump’s approach to tariffs has been characterized by his unpredictable style, and this trend continues—recently he mentioned a developing trade agreement with the UK lacking detail, while maintaining the U.S.’s current 10% tariff across the board on imports. Although the agreement aims to boost U.S. exports of agricultural products like beef and ethanol, no assurances have been provided that the UK will increase its imports from the U.S.
The Chinese embassy in the U.S. did not respond to requests for comments on these developments. Trump’s tariff strategy seems to be an ongoing negotiation tactic, signaling potential flexibility while still positioning the U.S. with significant tariffs as bargaining chips in trade discussions with China and other countries. Overall, Trump’s negotiation style remains unpredictable, which leaves future trade relations uncertain.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
