President Donald Trump suggested on Friday that an 80% tariff on Chinese imports “seems right,” ahead of high-stakes trade talks scheduled for this weekend in Switzerland.
The comment, made via a Truth Social post, signals a potentially aggressive US stance just days before formal negotiations between the two countries.
“80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B,” Trump posted, referring to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is expected to lead the US delegation in discussions with Chinese officials.
Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are scheduled to meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Switzerland this weekend for the first publicly confirmed talks between the two nations aimed at easing trade tensions.
US-China tariff wars
An 80% tariff would represent a sharp decrease from the current 145% duties that apply to many Chinese goods, but remains significantly higher than historic norms.
It would also far exceed the 10% baseline tariff agreed upon in the US-UK trade deal announced Thursday.
The proposal comes as the US attempts to restructure its global trade relationships.
While some of the previously announced tariffs were paused in early April, China has remained the focal point of the White House’s tariff policy.
Both Washington and Beijing currently have tariffs exceeding 100% on each other’s goods.
According to the Office of the US Trade Representative, the US exported $143.5 billion in goods to China in 2024 while importing $438.9 billion, underscoring the scale and complexity of the economic relationship.
Trump has ruled out making early concessions to China, including preemptive tariff reductions.
He has maintained that any easing will only follow substantial progress in talks.
Earlier this week, the president reiterated that American consumers are prepared to face higher prices and reduced product variety if it helps shift manufacturing jobs back to the US.
Despite expressing openness to lowering tariffs in the future, Trump’s latest comments suggest that any compromise with China may remain elusive in the short term.
Market reaction mixed
The market showed signs of unease following Trump’s post.
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average gave up earlier gains and were flat at the time of writing.
S&P 500 futures rose 0.1%, and Nasdaq-100 futures climbed 0.2%.
While the announcement of a preliminary trade agreement with the UK on Thursday provided some optimism, the prospect of renewed friction with China added to investor caution.
The UK deal, which set a 10% baseline tariff, was the first trade accord since Trump’s “reciprocal” tariff framework was unveiled last month.
However, the agreement lacks key details and is expected to require further negotiation.
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