Donald Trump Suggests 80 Per Cent Tariffs For Beijing Ahead Of US-China Talks

The statement, made on Friday, is the first time Trump has floated a specific alternative figure as negotiators prepare to meet in Switzerland over the weekend.

Although Trump has voiced optimism that tariff rates will eventually fall, his newly suggested figure remains high, surpassing the 60 per cent he proposed during his presidential campaign last year.

Source : Freepik

As high-level trade talks between the United States and China draw closer, President Donald Trump has publicly suggested a potential tariff rate of 80 per cent on Chinese imports — a notable shift from the current 145 per cent rate that his administration has imposed.

The statement, made on Friday, is the first time Trump has floated a specific alternative figure as negotiators prepare to meet in Switzerland over the weekend, reported Reuters.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and top US trade representative Jamieson Greer are scheduled to meet with China’s economic policymaker He Lifeng. The aim is to break the deadlock in a prolonged trade war that has disrupted global supply chains and strained relations between the world’s two largest economies.

In response to a question about how the president arrived at the 80 per cent figure, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified, “That was a number the president threw out there, and we'll see what happens this weekend." She added that the US would not reduce tariffs without receiving significant adjustments from China. “We need to see concessions from them as well,” she said.

Fentanyl, Tariffs, and Market Reactions

Alongside economic concerns, security issues are also expected to shape the talks. A Chinese official from the public-security apparatus is expected to join the Geneva meeting, indicating the importance of fentanyl trafficking in the broader US-China relationship. Trump has previously justified his administration’s tough stance on tariffs, including those on Canada and Mexico, by citing the fentanyl crisis.

In a social media post, Trump emphasised the need for open markets, writing, “China should open up its market to USA – would be so good for them!!! Closed markets don't work anymore!!!” He followed it up with: “80 per cent tariff on China seems right. Up to Scott B.”

Despite suggesting the figure, Trump clarified in the Oval Office on Friday that his team had been given guidance, though he stopped short of confirming if 80 per cent was his firm position. “We have to make a great deal for America,” he said. “I put out a number today, 80 per cent, so we'll see how that all works out.”

Expectations for a breakthrough remain modest. Oxford Economics noted that while the weekend discussions might lead to progress, hopes for a dramatic tariff rollback are likely premature. “While talks this weekend between US and Chinese officials may yield some progress, expectations for a significant reduction in tariffs seem unwarranted,” said Nancy Vanden Houten, lead US economist at the firm.

Oxford's analysis suggested that even if tariffs are lowered to 80 per cent, the average effective tariff rate would only drop to 18 per cent — still far higher than the pre-Trump average of 2-3 per cent, and nearly triple the rate from the start of his first term.

Political Stakes and Economic Pressures

Although Trump has voiced optimism that tariff rates will eventually fall, his newly suggested figure remains high, surpassing the 60 per cent he proposed during his presidential campaign last year.

The ongoing trade standoff has created challenges for both sides. China has responded with its own countermeasures, including export restrictions on key rare earth minerals and increased tariffs of up to 125 per cent on US products such as soybeans and liquefied natural gas.

With prices likely to rise for American consumers, the tariffs risk further weakening Trump’s approval ratings. Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers are grappling with factory closures, bankruptcies, and job losses as they struggle to pivot away from US markets.

Swiss Vice President Guy Parmelin, who is hosting the bilateral talks, struck a cautiously optimistic tone after meeting both delegations. “It’s already a success,” he said. “The two sides are talking ... If a road map can emerge and they decide to continue discussions, that will lower the tensions.”