Donald Trump suggests 80% tariffs on Chinese imports on eve of trade negotiations

WASHINGTON – On the eve of commercialized negotiations with China, President Donald Trump signaled a willingness to driblet tariffs to 80% from 145%, a level truthful precocious that commercialized has astir halted betwixt the world's 2 largest economies.

But it wasn’t wide whether his May 9 social-media station was a negotiating maneuver oregon a last connection to Chinese officials who person called U.S. tariffs "illegal and unreasonable."

“80% Tariff connected China seems right! Up to Scott B,” Trump said successful 1 post, referring to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

“CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA — WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DON’T WORK ANYMORE!!!” helium wrote successful different post.

China calls US tariffs 'illegal and unreasonable'

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng agreed to sermon commercialized successful Switzerland with Bessent from May 9 to 12. But Lifeng called U.S. tariffs “illegal and unreasonable” connected May 7 and said they were “disrupting the planetary economical and commercialized order.”

“If the U.S. says 1 happening but does another, oregon adjacent attempts to usage negotiations arsenic a pretext to proceed coercive and blackmailing tactics, China volition ne'er agree, nor volition it sacrifice its principles oregon planetary fairness and justness to question immoderate agreement,” Lifeng said.

Some chap Republicans person criticized Trump's tariffs. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said "tariffs are atrocious policy" nary substance the intentions.

Others expressed enactment for Trump’s tactics. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said Bessent should trim the confrontation with China portion negotiating little tariffs and commercialized barriers.

"It’s President Trump’s beardown presumption that has resulted present successful negotiations opening successful Geneva with Chinese leadership," Daines told Fox News connected May 7.

Trump says UK commercialized woody a template for different countries

Trump and his aides said his May 8 announcement of a commercialized woody with the United Kingdom would service arsenic a template for arrangements with different countries. The wide outlines of that woody kept Trump’s 10% tariffs connected each imports but with less restrictions connected U.S. products specified arsenic beef and dairy sent to England.

Trump medication officials person said they person 18 commercialized proposals from the country’s largest trading partners, with much expected.

“Many Trade Deals successful the hopper, each bully (GREAT!) ones!” Trump said May 9 connected societal media.

This nonfiction primitively appeared connected USA TODAY: Trump proposes 80% tariffs connected China, down from 145%, earlier talks