Former President Donald Trump has doubled down on his sweeping 145% tariffs on Chinese goods, asserting that China will “eat” the cost of the levies rather than pass them onto American consumers. In a recent interview with ABC News, Trump said the tariffs were a necessary measure to combat years of unfair trade practices and economic exploitation by China.
“China probably will eat those tariffs,” Trump stated. “They were ripping us off like nobody has ever ripped us off. That’s over now.”
Despite signs that American consumers are beginning to feel the effects—such as price hikes from Chinese retailers like Temu and Shein—Trump maintained that the tariffs would ultimately benefit the U.S. economy by protecting domestic manufacturing and correcting trade imbalances. He emphasized that the move aligns with promises he made during his campaign.
While the administration has hinted at the possibility of phased tariff reductions over five years to encourage negotiations with Beijing, no formal talks have begun. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested China could face severe economic consequences, including the loss of millions of jobs, if the tariffs remain in place.
“We’ve been ripped off by every country all over the world,” Trump said. “These tariffs are about bringing that to an end and restoring American industry.”