Trump floats ‘substantial’ China tariff cuts in trade deal

US President Donald Trump said he plans to be “very nice” to China in any trade talks, and that tariffs will drop if the two countries can reach a deal, a sign he may be backing down from his tough stance on Beijing amid market volatility.

“It will come down substantially, but it won’t be zero,” Trump said on Tuesday in Washington, following earlier comments from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that the tariff stand-off is unsustainable. Trump added that “we are going to be very nice, and they are going to be very nice, and we will see what happens.”