He also delayed plans to impose 25% tariffs on Chinese goods on Friday, as previously scheduled.
“I have asked China to immediately remove all Tariffs on our agricultural products 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 %from 10 %on March 1 as planned.Farmers are a key constituency for Trump’s Republican Party, and the U.S. president’s trade war with China has had a heavy impact on them.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said this week those U.S. trade negotiators had asked China to reduce tariffs on U.S. ethanol, but it was not immediately clear whether Beijing was willing to oblige. Trump’s post on Twitter came several hours after the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said that it would delay the scheduled hike in tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.
The notice, due to be published in the Federal Register next Tuesday, says it is “no longer appropriate” to raise the rates because of progress in negotiations since December 2018. The tariff would remain “at 10 %until further notice.”A tariff increase to 25% from 10 % was initially scheduled for Jan. 1, but after productive conversations with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Trump administration issued a 90-day extension of that deadline.
He must be crazy....😂😂😂😂😂