In a dramatic U-turn on his China rhetoric, Trump declared that tariffs on China would be “nowhere near as high” as the current 145%, promising to “be very nice” to China as trade negotiations move forward.
After months of escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, which have resulted in a 145% tariff on Chinese imports and a retaliatory 125% tariff on US goods, President Trump appears to be signalling a shift towards easing the conflict. Despite insisting he would remain firm against China,
Trump stated during a press event at the White House on Tuesday that the high tariffs on Chinese goods would “come down substantially, but it won’t be zero.” His comments followed remarks earlier in the day from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who noted that the tariffs had effectively created an embargo on trade between the two economies. Bessent expressed expectations that the trade conflict would ease soon, CNN reports. Trump expressed confidence in his “very good relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping, promising to “be very nice” in any future talks.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated yesterday that, “There have been 18 proposals from over 100 countries worldwide seeking deals with the United States,” she said. “The president and the administration are setting the stage for a deal with China, and we believe that everyone involved wants to see a trade deal happen. The ball is moving in the right direction.” Meanwhile, China has kept the door open for dialogue but emphasised that talks must be based on equality and respect.
Source: World Cargo News
