Joe Biden weighs cuts to Donald Trump’s China tariffs as inflation roars
- ‘No decision has been made,’ the US president says, but recent comments by administration officials suggest a shift is being considered
- The White House does not want to be seen as weak on China, but surging costs of goods and services are placing pressure on Biden ahead of the midterm elections
Under pressure to tame high inflation, US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that discussions are ongoing about potentially dropping trade tariffs on China that were imposed by his predecessor Donald Trump.
“We’re discussing that right now,” Biden told reporters. “I’m telling you, we’re discussing it, and no decision has been made on it.”
The president was responding to a question from the media after he gave a speech on inflation, during which he told Americans that he understands what they are grappling with.
“They’re frustrated,” Biden said of Americans paying more for goods and services across the board. “I don’t blame them.”
The leader is under pressure from some quarters to remove the tariffs in a bid to cut roaring US inflation by making imports cheaper.