Trump Says US Tariffs on Chinese Goods Will Drop Significantly, Not Entirely

|By Babatunji Wusu-

Trump Promises Tariff Relief Amid US-China Trade Tensions
 Says Rates Will Drop Substantially but Not to Zero

President Donald Trump has announced that the current 145% tariffs imposed on Chinese goods by the United States will be substantially reduced, though not eliminated.

Speaking during a White House press briefing on Tuesday, Trump responded to earlier remarks by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who had declared that the current high tariffs were unsustainable in the long term.

“It won’t be that high — not going to be that high,” Trump said. “We’re doing fine with China.”

He emphasized that the final tariff rate would not drop to zero but would be significantly lower than the existing figure.

The tariffs were part of Trump’s hardline “reciprocal tariffs” policy aimed at countries he accused of unfair trade practices. In retaliation, China slammed the U.S. with a 125% tariff on American imports, sparking a tit-for-tat trade war that rattled global markets.

The president’s tough trade stance had already caused tremors on Wall Street, leading to market instability and rising interest rates on U.S. government debt.

Despite this, Trump appeared to strike a softer tone toward Chinese President Xi Jinping, assuring that while he remained firm, he intended to maintain cordial ties with China’s leadership.

“We’re going to live together very happily and ideally work together,” Trump stated, hinting at a more cooperative trade path moving forward.

This shift could signal an upcoming easing of tensions between the world’s two largest economies, potentially paving the way for new trade negotiations.