Trump says he won’t soften China tariffs ahead of trade talks

President Trump said Wednesday he was not considering softening the 145 percent tariff on imports from China. 

Reporters in the Oval Office asked if the president would consider reducing levies on the foreign nation, to which he succinctly responded, “No.”

In early April, the Trump administration announced tariff exemptions on electronics such as phones, computers and other electronics coming from China and other nations.

Trump was asked Wednesday if he would consider further exemptions on products like car seats, but he shot down the idea.

“I want to make it nice and simple," he told journalists of tariffs on China during the swearing-in ceremony for David Perdue, the U.S. ambassador to China.

His comments come days ahead of a scheduled meeting with Chinese officials, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. 

Last week, leaders overseas said “senior leadership” within the federal government repeatedly stated that they are willing to negotiate with China on tariff issues, spurring suggested trade talks. 

But Trump denied the claim during his Wednesday remarks to the press.

"They said we initiated? Well, I think they ought to go back and study their files," he said.

The president reiterated from the Oval Office that to drop tariffs on imports from China, Beijing would need to help “stop fentanyl from coming in.” China is the primary source of the precursor chemicals used to produce fentanyl, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

China banned the production of fentanyl in 2019. China-based companies then began producing and selling fentanyl precursors, the ingredients needed to manufacture the drug as reported by the agency.

Trump has declared the influx of illegal drugs as a national emergency, which the White House says grants them the authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.