A tariff rate of more than 100 percent on Chinese goods is "not sustainable," US President Donald Trump admits in an interview with the television station Fox News.
- But they forced me to do it, says Trump.
In the interview, he also states that he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks in connection with an Asian summit in South Korea. If so, that meeting will be the first between Trump and Xi since Trump began his second term in office in January.
- I think it will work out with China, but we have to have a fair deal. It has to be fair, Trump tells Fox News.
The US president had otherwise threatened to stay away from the summit of the Asian Economic Cooperation Organization (Apec). He also warned last week that he will impose a 100 percent tariff on top of the approximately 57 percent already imposed on imports from China. When asked by Fox News whether this would result in a total tariff of around 157 percent, Trump replied:
- It's not sustainable, but that's what the number looks like. We're up against a very strong opponent, and they only respect strength, he added.
Blames China
Trump blames China for the current trade talks being deadlocked. The talks stalled when China tightened controls on rare earth exports. China dominates the market, which is important for the production of electric cars, mobile phones and other electronics.
The United States sent another signal of a possible thaw in tensions between them when US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that he would speak by phone with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
They are to discuss the stalled trade negotiations between the two countries, CNBC reported on Friday.
This was not immediately confirmed by the US Treasury Department, Reuters news agency writes.
Earlier this week, Bessent accused one of He Lifeng's top advisers of being "out of control" in recent talks with US negotiators. It is a claim that China has denied.
/ritzau/
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