US President Donald Trump, alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (R), speaks during a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 24, 2025.
Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images
President Donald Trump said in a social media post Friday that an 80% tariff on Chinese goods “seems right” ahead of key trade talks this weekend.
“80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is one of the U.S. officials set to speak with counterparts from China at a meeting in Switzerland.
An 80% levy would be a sharp reduction from the 145% tariff currently facing many Chinese goods.
China is seen as the key hurdle in Trump’s effort to shake up the global trading environment. While many other major countries saw the previously announced tariffs partially paused on April 9, tensions between the White House and Beijing until both countries had imposed a tariff of more than 100% on goods.
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