US President Donald Trump warned that he could impose tariffs of up to 155 per cent on Chinese goods unless President Xi Jinping agrees to what he described as a “fair deal” with Washington. The statement reignited trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies, which have long been at odds over tariffs, technology, and market access.
Trump’s warning came as he signed a critical minerals agreement with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House — a move aimed at strengthening supply chains and reducing U.S. dependence on China. Speaking ahead of his bilateral talks with Albanese, Trump claimed that China was already paying “tremendous amounts of money” to the U.S. through existing tariffs, which he said currently stand at 55 per cent.
The Republican leader added that the U.S. had successfully renegotiated trade deals with several countries that had previously “taken advantage” of Washington. Expressing optimism about future talks with Beijing, Trump said he expected to reach a “very fair” agreement with President Xi, calling it a potentially “very exciting” development for both nations.
