Trump Signals Tariff Reduction in Surprise Shift on China Trade War
“145% is very high and it won’t be that high,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “It’ll come down substantially. But it won’t be zero.”
US President Donald Trump. Photo/Getty Images.
By Robert Assad
In a surprising change of tone, U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that the record-high tariffs imposed on Chinese goods could soon be reduced, though not entirely removed.
Speaking at a White House news event on Tuesday, Trump said the tariffs, which have soared to as high as 145%, “will come down substantially, but it won’t be zero.”
This apparent softening of Trump’s hardline stance comes amid escalating concerns over market volatility and economic strain caused by the ongoing trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
“145% is very high and it won’t be that high,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “It’ll come down substantially. But it won’t be zero.”
The comments came after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at a private investment conference that the trade conflict was unsustainable. Bessent, according to a CNN source, suggested the U.S. is aiming for a “rebalancing” of trade rather than a complete decoupling from China.
Wall Street responded positively to the news, with major U.S. stock indexes hitting their highest levels of the day. The optimism also extended to Asia, where stock markets rallied, led by Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index, which rose over 2%.
China, however, remained cautious. The Chinese Foreign Ministry urged the U.S. to abandon its “threats and coercion” and engage on the basis of “equality, mutual respect and reciprocity.” Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterated that China is open to negotiations but prepared to stand firm.
Meanwhile, on Chinese social media, Trump’s remarks triggered a viral wave of commentary, with the hashtag “Trump chickened out” trending on Weibo.
Despite the tensions, Trump maintained that he has a “very good relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and expressed hope for future cooperation, stating, “I think we’re going to live together very happily.”
The trade war, which has shaken global markets and strained diplomatic ties, may now be entering a new phase of cautious optimism — though significant hurdles remain.
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