President Trump on Friday suggested that he was open to sharply reducing the tariffs that the United States has imposed on China, as American and Chinese negotiators prepare to meet in Switzerland this weekend for high-stakes trade talks.
Trade tensions between the U.S. and China have roiled international markets and the global economy. The negotiations on Saturday and Sunday are intended to de-escalate the situation and set the stage for a broader trade pact between the two economic superpowers.
In a post on social media, Mr. Trump said that an 80 percent tariff on China “seems right,” adding that it would be “up to Scott B,” an apparent reference to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. An 80 percent tariff would be a big drop from the 145 percent tariffs that Mr. Trump applied to Chinese imports in recent months, but would still be restrictive to trade between the two countries.