CNN: Trump, in a major concession, says the tariff on China should be 80% -- but will leave it up to Bessent

[Dennis Donovan]

CNN - Trump, in a major concession, says the tariff on China should be 80% — but will leave it up to Bessent

By David Goldman and Alayna Treene, CNN
Updated 8:20 AM EDT, Fri May 9, 2025

President Donald Trump on Friday set negotiating terms for his administration’s first discussions with China, which are set to take place in Geneva this weekend.

In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump appeared to lay out his demands — and concessions — for the meeting between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and their Chinese counterparts. Trump said China must import more US goods, and in return, he believes the United States should lower its 145% tariff on most Chinese goods to 80%.

“CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA — WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DON’T WORK ANYMORE!!!,” Trump posted.

“80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B,” Trump said in a separate post.

The concession would be a dramatic break from the present reality, which has sent shipments from China into the United States plunging by 60%, according to Ryan Petersen, CEO of Flexport, a logistics and freight forwarding broker.

/snip

[underpants]

1. He's negotiating with himself

[Aviation Pro]

2. There's only so much market manipulation

His big, fucking mouth can affect. At a certain point reality settles in.

[newdeal2]

3. CNN fell for it again. This is not a concession

This is a rambling old man who asked for the world but didn't get China to bite. Now he's asking for 99.9% of what he wanted and expecting a different result.

[Renew Deal]

4. Maybe Bessent figured out that Trump is trying to pin this on him

If Bessent was smart, he’d quit.

[unblock]

5. I'm gonna hold my breath until I turn purple is not a concession from I'm gonna hold my breath until I turn blue.

[lark]

6. krasnov is a total idiot and I doubt this improves things much at all.

I doubt this change moves the needle much, he's just flailing!!

[kentuck]

7. He is trying to get China to talk to him...

So he pretends to make a concession.