TRUMP SUGGESTS LOWERING CHINESE TARIFFS TO 80 PER CENT AHEAD OF TRADE TALKS

WASHINGTON, May 9 (Bernama-dpa/Anadolu) --  Just before trade talks in Switzerland between the United States and China, US President Donald Trump floated the idea of cutting his current 145 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports to 80 percent.

"80% Tariff on China seems right!," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, according to Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

But he said the decision would be up to his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

"Up to Scott B.," he added.

Bessent will lead the US delegation this weekend to Switzerland to discuss the two countries' trade imbalances with his Chinese counterparts.

In an interview with US broadcaster Fox News, Bessent said the two sides first have to agree what they want to discuss.

Meanwhile, Anadolu Ajansi reported Trump also urged China to open its markets to the US, stating that closed markets are no longer effective and that it would be beneficial for China to do so.

“CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA - WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DON’T WORK ANYMORE,” Trump wrote in a separate post.

Talks are set to begin Saturday in Geneva, with Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer leading the American side and Vice Premier He Lifeng representing China.

The negotiations aim to ease tensions following a sharp escalation earlier this year, when the US imposed tariffs as high as 145 per cent on Chinese imports and China retaliated with tariffs up to 125 per cent on certain American goods.

-- BERNAMA-dpa/ANADOLU