TRUMP ADMITS 145 PCT TARIFFS ON CHINA VERY HIGH, EXPECTS THEM TO COME DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY

MOSCOW, April 23 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that 145 per cent tariffs on China are high but believes that they will decrease substantially, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.

"That's true. 145 per cent is very high. And it won't be that high, not going to be that high. It got up to that. We were talking about fentanyl, where, you know, various elements built it up to 145. No, it won’t be anywhere near that high," Trump told reporters on Tuesday. "It'll come down substantially, but it won't be zero."

Trump noted that the tariffs used to be zero, but because of that, he continued to say, the United States was "just destroyed."

"China was taking us for a ride and just not going to have it's not going to happen," he said.

"We're going to be very good to China. Have a great relationship with President Xi … They're going to do very well, and I think they're going to be happy, and I think we're going to live together very happily and ideally work together. So, I think it's going to work out very well. But no, it's at 145 per cent, they will not be anywhere near that number."

On April 2, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order introducing reciprocal tariffs on imports from other countries, including China. The duty for Chinese exporters to the US has now reached 145 per cent, and the rate for US suppliers to China is 125 per cent.

Some experts told RIA Novosti that such a level of duties means a de facto halt in trade between the world's two largest economies.

--BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI