Trump says 80% tariffs on China ‘seems right’ ahead of US-Beijing high-level trade talks

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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.

US President Donald Trump commenting on the newly elected Pope Leo XIV to journalists outside the West Wing of the White House.Trump posted about tariffs on Chinese good ahead of high-level US-Beijing talks. Gripas Yuri/ABACA/Shutterstock
President Xi Jinping of China arriving at the Kremlin for a gala concert in Moscow, ahead of 80th WWII victory anniversary celebrationsPresident of China Xi Jinping in Moscow on Thursday, May 8, 2025. AP

“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%.

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