Trump trade chief Greer says 55% China tariffs a good status quo

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U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer looks on, following a meeting between Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, on the day of U.S.-China talks on trade, economic and national security issues, in Madrid, Spain, September 15, 2025. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura

WASHINGTON - U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports of around 55% are a good status quo, but the Trump administration would like to find areas where bilateral trade could increase more freely, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Tuesday.

Greers comments at the Economic Club of New York indicated no immediate move towards lowering President Donald Trumps tariffs on Chinese goods ahead of a November 10 deadline for the expiration of a trade truce between the worlds two largest economies.

If you ask the president, Do we have a deal with China? He would say, Yeah, this is our deal. Ive got 55% tariffs on it. Thats the deal. So that is a good status quo, Greer said.

But he said he wanted to continue regular discussions with Chinese officials to try to achieve a more balanced trade relationship, where the two sides can increase trade in non-sensitive goods such as U.S. agriculture products and Chinese consumer goods.

I would like to get to a position with them where...we can trade, and we can trade a little more freely and in a little more transparent kind of way, Greer