Donald Trump says 80% tariffs on China ‘seems right’ ahead of Beijing talks

The US President has used his social media to send a message as key administration members prepare for crunch talks with China.

US President Donald Trump said Friday that 80 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods “seems right” – as top Washington and China officials brace for high-level weekend talks to de-escalate the trade war between the world’s two largest economies.

“China should open up its market to USA – would be so good for them!!! Closed markets don’t work anymore!!!” Mr Trump said in a Truth Social post.

“80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B,” he added, referring to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping. Picture: Mandel Ngan and Pedro Pardo/AFP

Mr Trump floated the tariff figure just as Mr Bessent and chief trade negotiator Jamieson Greer were prepping to meet their Chinese counterparts in Switzerland for the high-stake talks.

It comes after sources close to the negotiation told The New York Post on Thursday that the Trump administration was considering a plan to slash the current 145 per cent tariff to as low as 50 per cent.

Donald Trump’s tariff agenda sparked a trade war with China. Picture: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

The trade war has been escalating ever since Trump announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs on April 2 – prompting China to retaliate with levies of its own.

The tariffs on each other’s goods have been mounting since then, with the US tariffs against China currently at 145 per cent and China tariffs on the US at 125 per cent.

Xi sits shoulder to shoulder with Putin

Meanwhile President Xi is in Moscow where he sat beside Russian President Vladimir Putin to watch a Victory Day military parade on Friday.

The event commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany and President Putin used his speech to assert that it was Russia who “determined the outcome” of World War Two.

The comment appeared to be a jab at Mr Trump who last week said that the US played the most important role in the defeat of the Nazis.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in Moscow on Friday. Picture: Vyacheslav PROKOFYEV / POOL / AFP

Mr Putin said the USSR “took upon itself the strongest attacks of our enemies and our citizens picked up arms and defended the front lines.”

“We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance.”

This story originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Donald Trump says 80% tariffs on China ‘seems right’ ahead of Beijing talks