US President Donald Trump said on Friday that his proposed 100% tariff on Chinese goods was not meant to be permanent.
He described the decision as unsustainable in the long term but insisted that it was necessary.
Trump said during the interview:
It’s not sustainable, but that’s what the number is. They forced me to do that.
Trump says meeting with Xi will go ahead
During the interview, Trump also confirmed that he would meet Xi within two weeks, expressing confidence that discussions would lead to a breakthrough.
He added that he believed “things will be fine with China,” signalling cautious optimism despite the sharp escalation in tariff measures announced earlier this month.
“I get along great with him,” Trump said of Xi in the interview. “I think we’re going to be fine with China, but we have to have a fair deal. It’s got to be fair.”
On October 10, Trump announced the imposition of a 100% tariff on all Chinese goods, set to take effect from 1 November.
The move marked a major escalation in the trade dispute between Washington and Beijing.
Earlier that day, he had accused China of “trade hostility” and even suggested he might cancel the meeting with Xi — though he later reversed course, confirming the meeting would proceed.
The President’s tone during the interview appeared less confrontational than his earlier remarks, indicating that Washington may still be seeking a negotiated resolution.
Trade tensions remain despite partial tariff reductions
The 100% tariff follows months of back-and-forth increases and reductions between the US and China.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration had repeatedly raised tariffs on Chinese goods, reaching a peak of 145%.
Beijing responded by increasing tariffs on American exports to as high as 125%.
Subsequent discussions between trade officials led to a partial rollback — US tariffs on Chinese products dropped to 30%, while Chinese tariffs on American goods fell to 10%.
The temporary pause in tariffs was meant to give the US and China time to resolve broader trade disputes, but progress stalled after Washington expanded technology restrictions, proposed levies on Chinese ships entering US ports, and Beijing responded with similar measures and tighter export controls on rare earths.
However, the latest move to pile on another 100% tariff has reignited tensions, suggesting that Washington sees stronger measures as necessary leverage ahead of renewed talks.
The two economies together account for a significant share of global manufacturing, and a prolonged dispute could ripple through supply chains worldwide.
For now, Trump’s acknowledgement that the measure is temporary offers a hint of flexibility ahead of his meeting with Xi.
Yet, with the 1 November implementation date approaching, businesses and markets remain uncertain about whether the policy will shift again depending on the outcome of the talks.
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