US President Donald Trump has warned that China could face tariffs as high as 155 per cent unless President Xi Jinping agrees to a fair trade agreement with Washington.
The warning came on Monday during Trump’s bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House. Trump used the opportunity to underline his firm stance on trade and to remind global partners of his administration’s economic priorities.
“Countries Took Advantage of the US”
Trump said China had shown respect towards the United States but made it clear that his government would no longer tolerate what he described as unfair trading behaviour.
“A lot of countries took advantage of the US, and they are not able to take advantage anymore,” he stated.
Known for using tariffs as a diplomatic and economic pressure tool, the Republican leader reiterated his expectation for a balanced deal. “I expect we will probably work out a very fair trade deal with President Xi of China. I think most of you will be there. It will be very exciting,” Trump said confidently.
China Halts US Soybean Imports
Trump’s statement followed reports showing that China did not buy any US soybeans in September. It marked the first time since November 2018 that shipments dropped to zero.
Instead of sourcing from American farmers, China turned to South American suppliers to meet its demand. The move highlighted the ongoing tensions and trade disruptions between the two largest economies.
This development added fresh strain to an already complex trade relationship, especially as both sides prepared for high-level discussions in the coming weeks.
Trump’s Earlier Tariff Plans
Earlier this month, Trump announced plans to impose 100 per cent tariffs on all Chinese imports. He also revealed upcoming export restrictions on “any and all critical software,” set to take effect from November 1.
These new duties would come in addition to the 55 per cent tariffs already applied to Chinese goods. The combined rates would create one of the highest tariff barriers in modern US-China trade history.
Upcoming Trump-Xi Meeting in South Korea
Trump confirmed that he would meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea in the coming weeks, expressing optimism for a breakthrough in talks.
“We have a very good relationship; we are going to be meeting in South Korea in a couple of weeks… I think when we finish our meetings, China and I will have a really fair and really great trade deal together,” Trump said.
He described the potential outcome as a win-win situation for both nations and beneficial for the global economy.
Diplomatic Talks Continue
Before Trump’s latest warning, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had confirmed that officials from Washington and Beijing would hold preliminary discussions in Malaysia this week.
Reports also indicated that Trump had briefly considered cancelling his first face-to-face meeting with Xi since returning to the White House. However, he eventually decided to move forward, signaling his intent to secure what he calls a “fair and balanced” trade arrangement.