President Donald Trump said that tariffs totaling as much as 157% on Chinese imports are “not sustainable” as he prepares to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the coming weeks.
“It’s not sustainable, but that’s what the number is,” Trump told in his first interview since brokering the historic Middle East peace deal.
“It’s probably not, you know, it could stand. But they forced me to do that.”
Trump said he raised tariffs to 100% on top of existing duties after Beijing tightened export controls on rare earth minerals — a move he described as retaliation for China’s economic pressure.
President Donald Trump said he was “forced” to raise tariffs on China after Beijing tightened its control over rare earth exports. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Tensions between Washington and Beijing have intensified after the United States announced plans to double tariffs on select Chinese goods earlier this week, with the increases set to take effect in November.
“I’ve always had a great relationship with them, as you know, but they’re always looking for an edge,” Trump said, adding that China has “ripped off our country for years.”
“I will tell you that China, in particular, boy, they did a number on our country. They took money out. Now it’s reversed,” he said, expressing optimism about the future of U.S.-China trade relations.
“I think we’re going to do fine with China. I get along great with him. He’s a very strong leader, a very, you know, amazing man,” Trump said of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“But we have to have a fair deal. It’s gotta be fair.”
Trump announced he and Xi will meet in South Korea “in a couple of weeks.”
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet in South Korea in the coming weeks for high-level discussions. (Tingshu Wang/Pool/Getty Images / Getty Images)