White House Sources: "Tariffs on China to Be Reduced to 50-65%"
U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a plan to significantly reduce the additional tariffs imposed on China during his second term, lowering them from the previous 145% to as low as 50%.
On April 23 (local time), the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing White House sources, reported that President Trump is likely to lower tariffs on China to between 50% and 65%.
The sources stated that President Trump has not yet made a final decision and is reviewing several options.
Previously, President Trump imposed a total tariff of 145% on China, consisting of a 20% fentanyl tariff and a 125% reciprocal tariff. The reciprocal tariff on China was initially set at 50%, but after Beijing imposed retaliatory tariffs, President Trump responded with further measures, ultimately raising the tariff to 125%. According to the WSJ report, the new tariffs on China imposed during Trump’s second term could be reduced from the current 145% to less than half, or as low as one-third of the current level.
President Trump is also considering applying different tariff rates depending on the product category. This approach is similar to the one proposed late last year by the bipartisan House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (China Committee). At that time, the China Committee proposed imposing a 35% tariff on products that do not pose a threat to national security, and at least a 100% tariff on products that are strategically important to U.S. interests. The bill called for these tariffs to be phased in over five years.
Kushi Desai, White House deputy spokesperson, commented on the review of tariff reductions on China, saying, "President Trump has made it clear that China must reach an agreement with the United States," and added, "Any decisions regarding tariffs will be made directly by the President. All other decisions are purely speculative."
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