Washington, May 8 – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he will not reduce the 145% tariffs imposed on Chinese imports, signaling a hardline stance just days before senior officials from Washington and Beijing are set to meet for trade talks in Switzerland.
Asked by a reporter at the White House whether he would consider lowering the steep levies to help bring China to the negotiating table, Trump responded bluntly: “No.”
The comment comes ahead of a planned meeting between U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer with their Chinese counterparts, scheduled to take place in Switzerland later this week. The talks, initiated at Washington’s request, are expected to focus on longstanding trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
Beijing, which has imposed 125% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, has consistently pushed back against Trump’s tariff policies and has shown little willingness to enter substantive negotiations unless the duties are scaled back.
Despite the upcoming engagement, Trump said earlier this week he had no intention of signing any trade agreements in the near term, as his administration continues to pursue a strategy of reciprocal tariffs against multiple trading partners. While markets initially welcomed the announcement of renewed U.S.-China talks, investors remain skeptical that any breakthrough will emerge, given the entrenched positions on both sides.
“The president’s refusal to ease tariffs before negotiations begins underscores the limited room for compromise,” one analyst at a New York-based investment firm said. The trade dispute between Washington and Beijing has dragged on for years, contributing to global economic uncertainty and recurring tensions in bilateral relations.
