China tariffs will fall ‘but it won't be zero', says Trump

Import taxes continue to roil stock markets across the globe

- ANDREW FEINBERG

President Donald Trump on Tuesday conceded that the 145 per cent tax Americans currently pay for most imported goods from China will come down as a result of trade talks between Washington and Beijing.

Speaking in the Oval Office after a brief swearing-in ceremony for Securities and Exchange Commission chair Paul Atkins, Mr Trump said talks with China were “doing fine” because “everybody wants to have involvement” in American markets.

He also claimed that both he and Chinese representatives would be “very nice” in any forthcoming talks, but maintained that Beijing would ultimately be forced to come to some sort of agreement to bring down the massive tariffs he has unilaterally imposed as part of his unprovoked trade war with China – and the rest of the world.