Trump says he might not want to raise tariffs on China any higher: 'At a certain point, people aren't going to buy'
Source: Business Insider
Apr 18, 2025, 2:29 AM ET
President Donald Trump said there may be a point where he doesn't want to put higher tariffs on China because the move could deter buying. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said he may not raise tariffs if China goes beyond the 125% duty it has on American goods.
"At a certain point, I don't want them to go higher because at a certain point, you make it where people don't buy," Trump said when a reporter asked what happens if China raises tariffs on the US. "I may not want to go higher, or I may not want to even go up to that level — I may want to go to less, because you want people to buy, and at a certain point, people aren't going to buy," he added.
Earlier on Thursday, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it wouldn't pay attention to Trump's "tariff numbers game" after the White House said Chinese exports face a levy of up to 245%. Last week, Beijing called escalating US tariffs a "joke" and said they no longer hold "any economic significance."
China is the third-largest buyer of US goods, behind Canada and Mexico. According to US government figures, China bought $143.5 billion worth of American products last year.
Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-says-might-not-raise-tariffs-china-consumption-buying-2025-4

Bernardo de La Paz
(54,951 posts)exboyfil
(18,213 posts)Say it isn't so.
Bernardo de La Paz
(54,951 posts)... it didn't stick because it doesn't apply to scams, grifting, or using other people's money.
tulipsandroses
(7,197 posts)I do agree that he has a knack for scams and grifting. Natural talent.
ananda
(31,552 posts)...
zorbasd
(392 posts)...yeah one professor who thankfully lived long enough to inform the world that Donald was the supidest fucking student he ever had...
bucolic_frolic
(49,994 posts)"Hey, Rocky! Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!"
Bengus81
(8,716 posts)




pnwest
(3,377 posts)PortTack
(35,580 posts)IronLionZion
(48,574 posts)they won't lose much if Americans don't buy. It screws Americans who want those products and can't afford it.
Paladin
(30,269 posts)He damn sure didn't come up with it, himself...
muriel_volestrangler
(103,491 posts)If his aim was just to keep them buying the Chinese stuff, but pay more for it, then he's stoking inflation.
thought crime
(174 posts)Tadpole Raisin
(1,761 posts)You know maybe it will, maybe it won’t.
Some people say it but I don’t know. Many people do but maybe not we’re looking into it very strongly.
Fing more slippery than a snake.
Renew Deal
(83,834 posts)republianmushroom
(19,598 posts)'At a certain point, people aren't going to buy'.
Now we shall is if the MAGArats understand.
Raftergirl
(1,668 posts)it will always be cheaper than American made goods, but the Chinese will certainly stop buying American imports. They have the whole world to buy from without exorbitant tariffs on goods, while American consumers no have high tariffs on all goods no matter what country they come from. So, most goods from China will always be the cheaper.
VMA131Marine
(4,960 posts)They’ll just do without if they can’t substitute with a product from another location. Importers will probably stop bringing Chinese products in because they can’t absorb a tariff that large and stay in business.
So, the tariff income is going to be near zero on Chinese goods.
Raftergirl
(1,668 posts)Walmart, Target, etc., won’t have anything to sell at all if that is the case. They will just raise their prices but people will still shop there because it will still be cheaper than other places. Ditto, Lowe’s, Home Depot, etc. etc. etc.
People won’t do without, they just won’t buy as much.
Mr.Bee
(627 posts)No shit sheerluck! First you have to build the factories, then you to develop the product, then you have to get it on store shelves, then you impose tariffs to get people to buy American and sometimes THAT doesn't even work!
His problem is he's so out of touch with society he's living in the seventies. Remember Datsun, Toyota, Panasonic and Sony? You could've imposed tariffs on them and people would still buy them because at the time, they were the superior product!
Idiotman needs to stick his head out the window and see the world spinning 'round
And nobody seems to like him, they can tell what he wants to do
And he never shows his feelings
But the fool on the hill sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head see the world spinning 'round (oh oh oh)
kimbutgar
(24,927 posts)I hope China raises the tariffs 1000 percent on his stuff!
Javaman
(63,678 posts)he's on his meds now, let's see when he goes off them again.
BobTheSubgenius
(11,977 posts)Could it be that that suppurating boil has had a revelation?
brush
(59,653 posts)dalton99a
(88,308 posts)and wait for Christmas
Bengus81
(8,716 posts)China does. You also claimed that Mexico was paying for the wall. In other words you never know what the FUCK your talking about and never have.
travelingthrulife
(2,130 posts)The cult must be getting dizzy with all this winning.
appmanga
(1,099 posts)...and China has made it plain they're not intimidated.
AntiFascist
(13,243 posts)
0rganism
(25,014 posts)And anyone looking to F47 for guidance or leadership is a damned fool.
brush
(59,653 posts)LudwigPastorius
(12,286 posts)chowmama
(736 posts)Isn't that cute? (Spoiler alert - no.)