Trump signals openness to lower tariffs on China 'at some point' amid ongoing trade standoff

US President Donald Trump signals to lower tariffs on China

US President Donald Trump has signaled a potential shift in US trade policy, saying he is open to lowering tariffs on China, acknowledging that the current high levies have effectively brought trade between the world’s two largest economies to a standstill.

In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker, Trump said, “At some point, I’m going to lower them, because otherwise you can’t do business with them — and they want to do business very much.”

Trump has announced 145 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports and China retailed with tariffs of 125 per cent on American imports. The actions unsettled financial markets and could lead to higher costs for manufacturing tools and everyday consumer products like clothing and toys that many Americans depend on.

According to a statement from the ministry, “China is currently evaluating this.” In response to those remarks from Beijing, U.S. stock markets saw gains on Friday.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said he does not plan to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, noting that the two nations are “talking about different things.”

He also mentioned that the U.S. is engaged in trade talks with multiple countries, including China, and stressed his desire for a “fair deal,” reiterating his accusation that “China has been ripping us off for many years.”

He pointed to recent economic struggles in China, highlighting that factory activity has declined to its weakest level since 2023, based on the official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index. Additionally, new export orders dropped to their lowest point since December 2022, marking the sharpest decline since April of that year, when Shanghai was placed under a full pandemic lockdown.

(With agency inputs)