President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social on Friday that an 80% tariff on Chinese goods “seems right” as key trade discussions loom this weekend in Switzerland. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is among the U.S. officials preparing to meet with Chinese counterparts to address ongoing trade tensions.
The suggested 80% tariff marks a significant decrease from the current 145% levy imposed on many Chinese imports. However, this rate remains notably higher than the 10% baseline tariff established in the recently signed U.S.-U.K. trade agreement on Thursday. While lower, an 80% tariff could still pose challenges to U.S.-China trade, potentially impacting the flow of goods between the two nations.
China remains a critical trading partner for the United States. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, in 2024, the U.S. exported $143.5 billion in goods to China while importing $438.9 billion, highlighting the significant trade volume between the two countries. However, escalating tariffs have strained this relationship, with both nations previously imposing tariffs exceeding 100% on each other’s goods.
