Clarification of the Message
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a clarification on Friday regarding President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about potentially reducing tariffs on Chinese imports, calling the 80% figure he cited simply “a number the president threw out.”
In comments that sparked confusion, Trump had suggested lowering tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 80%, stating on Truth Social:
“An 80% tariff on China seems right. China should open its market to the U.S. — that would be so good for them. Closed markets don’t seem to work anymore.”
However, the White House quickly moved to dismiss any suggestion of a planned unilateral move.
“The president remains firm in his view that the U.S. will not reduce tariffs on Chinese products without concessions from Beijing,” Leavitt clarified.
Tariff Confusion Amid Broader Trade Push
Trump’s offhand comment fueled speculation just hours after he officially announced a new trade agreement with the United Kingdom — the first since “Victory in Europe Day” — marking what he called “a special day.” The announcement followed a successful phone call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whom Trump praised for his “exceptional leadership and cooperation.”
“This is the first in a series of trade deals my administration has been working on over the past four weeks,” Trump said from the Oval Office, underscoring his administration’s new momentum in global trade negotiations.
Eyes on Europe
President Trump also expressed his hopes of meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen amid ongoing trade tensions with the EU.
“She’s truly fantastic. I hope we’ll meet,” he said when asked about potential talks with the EU27.
Though he avoided giving specifics, Trump stated his confidence: “Everyone wants to make a deal with the United States.”
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