Trump May Reduce Tariffs on China by 50% and Consider a Tiered Tariff Plan for China

According to foreign media reports, in order to reduce Sino-US trade friction, US President Trump is considering significantly lowering the hefty tariffs on Chinese goods, with some tariff rates potentially being cut by more than half.

Sources indicated that although President Trump has not yet made a final decision, multiple proposals are currently under discussion. One proposal from the US government involves a tiered tariff scheme: imposing lower rates (around 35%) on non-strategic Chinese goods, while levying tariffs as high as 100% on key Chinese goods related to US national security. Another proposal suggests that US tariffs on Chinese goods could be reduced to between "50% to 65%". It is reported that the current US tariffs on Chinese goods can reach up to 145%.

A White House official stated that the Trump administration will not unilaterally lower tariffs on Chinese goods at this time, and any adjustments must be reached through negotiations with the Chinese government. White House spokesperson Kush Desai said, "President Trump has made it clear: China needs to reach an agreement with the US. Any decisions regarding tariffs will be announced directly by President Trump, and other claims are purely speculative."

On April 23, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated that both the US and China consider the current tariff levels "unsustainable". Scott Bessent said, "As I said yesterday, this is equivalent to an embargo, and the disruption of trade between the two countries is not in the interest of either side." On April 22, Scott Bessent also noted that he expects the US-China tensions to ease.

Trump stated on April 22, "US tariffs on China will be significantly reduced, but not to zero." This relatively mild statement from Trump contrasts sharply with his tough stance in early April, when he announced plans to impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods on April 2. Chinese policy observers believe that Trump's remarks "are seen as a signal of concession." This policy shift stems from market volatility and strong criticism from the business community.

On April 23, China responded by expressing willingness to restart negotiations with the US but warned that talks would not proceed if Sino-US tensions persist. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said, "China's stance on the tariff war initiated by the US is clear: we do not want to fight, but we are not afraid to fight. If it comes to a fight, we will see it through; if it comes to talks, our door is open."

Analysts warned that the US imposing hefty tariffs on Chinese goods could lead to a surge in prices of products such as electronics, toys, and clothing, which are mass-produced in China, and disrupt complex supply chains across multiple industries.