Trump Floats 80% China Tariff Ahead of High-Stakes Talks: ‘Seems Right!’
In a striking escalation ahead of critical trade negotiations, President Donald Trump on Friday morning declared that an “80% tariff on China seems right!” — marking the first time he has publicly floated a specific figure since revisiting tariff strategy earlier this year.
Taking to Truth Social, Trump added that the final decision would be left to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is set to lead high-level negotiations with Chinese officials in Switzerland this weekend. The proposed tariff, while lower than the currently imposed 145%, would still represent one of the largest trade penalties on any U.S. economic partner in modern history.
“CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA — WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DON’T WORK ANYMORE!!!” Trump wrote in a separate post moments before, underscoring his administration’s renewed push for reciprocity in global trade.
The timing of the announcement is notable, coming just hours after President Trump swore in the new U.S. Ambassador to China. “What timing,” he reportedly quipped during the ceremony, signaling that a new chapter in U.S.-China relations may be unfolding.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarified at a briefing that the 80% figure was “a number the president threw out there,” and emphasized that any adjustment to tariffs would be conditional on Chinese concessions. “He’s not going to unilaterally lower the tariff — that’s not how this works,” Leavitt told reporters.
Trump’s comment comes as Treasury Secretary Bessent and U.S. Chief Trade Negotiator Jamieson Greer prepare to meet with China’s top economic policymaker, He Lifeng, in a neutral Swiss venue — a location chosen to emphasize diplomatic neutrality amid mounting trade tensions.
Earlier this week, Trump hinted at China’s willingness to reach a deal. “They very much want to make a deal,” he told reporters. “It doesn’t matter who made the first call. What matters is what happens in that room.”
Trump’s latest remarks suggest a potential pivot from the administration’s current 145% tariff on Chinese imports — a measure introduced last month following accusations of predatory trade practices and persistent market restrictions. While tariffs on other countries were temporarily reduced to a 10% baseline, China responded with a 125% tariff on American goods, deepening the standoff.
Despite the provocative tone, Trump has maintained that a final agreement is possible. “We can all play games,” he said Thursday. “But I will tell you that China very much wants to make a deal.”
With both economic giants facing mounting internal pressures and global scrutiny, the outcome of this weekend’s talks could reshape the trajectory of U.S.-China trade relations — and define the next phase of Trump’s America First economic policy.
