President Trump said Friday that 80% tariffs on Chinese goods “seems right” — as top US and China officials brace for high-level weekend talks to deescalate the trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
“China should open up its market to USA — would be so good for them!!! Closed markets don’t work anymore!!!” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
“80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B,” he added, referring to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Trump floated the tariff figure just as Bessent and chief trade negotiator Jamieson Greer were prepping to meet their Chinese counterparts in Switzerland for the high-stake talks.
It comes after sources close to the negotiation told The Post on Thursday that the Trump administration was considering a plan to slash the current 145% tariff to as low as 50%.
The trade war has been escalating ever since Trump announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs on April 2 — prompting China to retaliate with levies of its own.
The tariffs on each other’s goods have been mounting since then, with the US tariffs against China currently at 145% and China tariffs on the US at 125%.
