Customs friction between China and the US. Trump: An extra 100 percent the tariff is unsustainable

US President Donald Trump said in an interview on Fox Business that the additional 100% tariffs he threatened on goods from China were probably unsustainable. He explained that China forced him to make this move and did not rule out that a tariff would eventually be imposed.

In an interview on Thursday, part of which was broadcast on Friday morning, Trump was asked whether the additional 100 percent tariffs on goods from China that he threatened would remain in place. Trump initially answered “no”, but ultimately did not rule out that he would impose such a tariff.

“It's unsustainable, but that's the number. It's probably not (sustainable), but you know, it might be sustainable. But they made me do it,” Trump said, referring to China-imposed export controls on rare earth metals.

Immediately afterwards, however, he added that he believed that “everything would go well with China”, assuring that he wanted a fair deal. Trump announced that he intended to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping during the APEC summit in South Korea, adding that he “doesn't know what will happen,” but praised him and his relationship with Xi.

“I get along with him great. He's a very strong leader, really, you know, an amazing man. Look at what he's done and achieved, where his life is, it's an amazing story. It's a story that would make a great movie,” Trump declared.

He also blamed former American presidents, from Richard Nixon through Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush, for trade problems with China, noting that he did not know whether the former's “opening up of China” was a good or bad thing.

“He (Nixon) unleashed all this. And now we have a very strong opponent and they only respect strength. That's the only thing they respect,” he noted.

Trump announced the imposition of new 100 percent tariffs and his own export controls from November 1. The date of the meeting with Xi has not yet been set, but it is to take place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Community (APEC) summit in South Korea, which starts on October 31. According to Reuters reports, a telephone conversation between US Finance Minister Scott Bessent and Chinese Deputy Prime Minister He Lifeng is scheduled to take place on Friday. They both headed the delegations of both powers during the trade talks between them so far.

From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)

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