Mixed messages have kept Chinese officials guessing. The US president has long railed against the gaping trade deficit between the world’s two largest economies – and on the campaign trail threatened upwards of 60% duties on all Chinese goods coming into the US. That’s potentially putting Beijing prominently in line for Wednesday’s expected measures.
And yet, in recent days, Trump has suggested he could reduce tariffs on Chinese imports as part of a wider bargain on the sale of Chinese-social social media platform TikTok. Speaking on Air Force One on Sunday, he vowed again to complete a deal on the platform ahead of a Saturday deadline. Trump has also touted a “a great relationship” with Chinese leader Xi Jinping even as his government slapped tough controls on China’s access to US tech and called for tighter investment controls.
