AsianFin -- The White House on Friday played down U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed tariff cuts and asked for concessions from China ahead of trade talks between the world’s two superpowers.
Credit：Xinhua News Agency
Trump floated his openness to lowering the 145% tariffs on Chinese imports in a post on his social media Truth Social early Friday morning. “80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B.,” Trump posted, referring to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is set to hold trade talks with Chinese officials this weekend.
“As for the 80% number, that was a number that the president threw out there, and we’ll see what happens this weekend,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded when asked about Trump’s proposed 80% China tariffs at a press briefing Friday afternoon. She told reporters Trump is committed to the 10% baseline tariffs not only for the United Kingdom but for his trade negotiations with all other countries as well.
Leavitt implied Trump insisted he would not cut tariffs until China make the first move, and said the Trump administration needs China make concessions to make a deal. “The president still remains with his position that he is not going to unilaterally bring down tariffs on China. We need to see concessions from them as well. That’s part of the reason Secretary Bessent is going to talk to his Chinese counterparts this weekend to start those discussions in person,” Leavitt said.
It’s unclear what concessions the White House wants, but Trump in a separate post on Friday suggested the administration wants more markets in China to open up for U.S. goods. “CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA — WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DON’T WORK ANYMORE!!!,” he said in the post.
Trump two week ago indicated he would not cut tariffs unilaterally if China doesn’t make meaningful concessions in return. On April 25, the president spoke to reporters that he doesn’t plan to drop tariffs on China unless Beijing gives U.S. something “substantial” in return. Questioned what concessions he wants from China, Trump said he would like to see China opens its economy, “Opening up China would be a big win.” But he added believed that kind of openness can not be materialized by Beijing, so it’s not certain he would seek the “open China” as part of the talks on tariffs.
China on Tuesday announced Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will have a high-level meeting with the U.S. on economic and trade affairs during his visit to Switzerland from May 9 to 12. He, as the Chinese lead person for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs, will have a meeting with the U.S. lead person essent. That is the first formal meeting over trade Beijing confirmed since the Trump administration intensified trade war.
A day later, Trump said he would not considering lowering tariffs on China in order to kick off trade negotiations.Asked if he would pull back on the duties on Chinese imports, which totaled to a steep level of 145% since Trump returned to the White House, to initiate talks with China, Trump responded with a succinct answer:“No.”
Trump on Thursday has reiterated China wants to make a deal and expresses optimism that discussions will be “substantive” with China. He called for China to open its economy, stating“We’d like to see China opened up, so we can compete in China.” If China opens up its market, “that’ll be the greatest thing that ever happened to China. The people will be happier,” Trump says. “It’ll create great, long-term peace.”
Asked if he will speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping this weekend, Trump on Thursday replied, “I might, yeah, sure.” “China wants to do something,” the president continues. “They have to.”
