Donald Trump asks Beijing to end tariffs on US farm products – because he delayed boosting China tariffs
- Trump said China should end tariffs on US agricultural products because trade talks are ‘moving along nicely’
US President Donald Trump said he asked China to immediately remove all tariffs on US agricultural products because trade talks were progressing well.
He also delayed plans to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods on Friday, as previously scheduled.
“I have asked China to immediately remove all Tariffs on our agricultural products (including beef, pork, etc.) based on the fact that we are moving along nicely with Trade discussions,” Trump said on Twitter, pointing out that he had not raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 25 per cent from 10 per cent on March 1 as planned.
“This is very important for our great farmers – and me!” Trump said.
Farmers are a key constituency for Trump’s Republican Party, and the US president’s trade war with China has had a heavy impact on them. Beijing imposed tariffs last year on imports of soybeans, grain sorghum, pork and other items, slashing shipments of American farm products to China.
US Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said this week that US trade negotiators asked China to reduce tariffs on US ethanol, but it was not clear whether Beijing would.