‘It’s not sustainable’: Donald Trump on tariffs on China, to meet Xi Jinping in South Korea

US President Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump said on Friday his proposed 100% tariff on goods from China would not be sustainable, adding that he would meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks and that he thought things would be fine with China.

“It’s not sustainable,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Business when asked whether the current tariff levels could continue. “It could stand, but they forced me to do that,” he added.

Donald Trump said he will meet with Xi Jinping in South Korea in two weeks, hinting that the encounter could pave the way for renewed trade negotiations. “I think we’ll be fine with China,” Trump stated during the interview, a clip of which aired Friday.

Donald Trump said, “They’re always looking for an edge. They ripped off our country for years.” He added, “China — boy, they did a number on our country. They took money out. Now, it’s reversed.”

Emphasising his tough approach toward Beijing, Donald Trump, “We have a very strong adversary and they only respect strength.”

The comments follow Trump’s recent threat to impose additional 100% tariffs on Chinese goods starting November 1, in response to China’s restrictions on rare earth mineral exports.

Last week, Donald Trump said that he’s placing an additional 100% tax on Chinese imports starting on Nov. 1 or sooner, potentially escalating tariff rates close to levels that in April fanned fears of a steep recession and financial market chaos.

The President said on his social media site that he is imposing these new tariffs because of export controls placed on rare earth elements by China. The new tariffs built on an earlier post Friday on Truth Social in which Mr. Trump said that “there seems to be no reason” to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as part of an upcoming trip to South Korea.

*With Agency Inputs