TAIPEI, Taiwan – China appears to be quietly removing 125% retaliatory tariffs on some U.S. imports, including semiconductors, media reports said, following President Donald Trump’s recent signals that high levies on Chinese goods could be reduced.
The U.S. this month imposed tariffs of 145% on Chinese imports, prompting China to retaliate with tariffs reaching 125% on American goods – a tit-for-tat trade battle that threatens to stunt the global economy. The U.S. also has imposed new tariffs on most other countries.
Chinese authorities have implemented tariff exemptions for eight types of U.S. semiconductors, excluding memory chips, CNN reported on Friday.
The broadcaster said that importers received notification of the changes during customs clearance rather than from official announcements. It said companies that already paid these tariffs may be eligible for refunds.
Separately, Bloomberg reported that Chinese officials are considering tariff exemptions for medical equipment and industrial chemicals such as ethane.
China, the world’s largest plastics producer, has factories that rely on U.S.-sourced ethane, while Chinese hospitals depend on advanced medical equipment such as MRI scanners made by American companies.
Additionally, authorities are reportedly exploring tariff exemptions for aircraft leasing arrangements to reduce financial burdens on Chinese airlines that lease rather than own their aircraft.
Radio Free Asia has not independently verified the reports.
China has not commented.
The reports came after China told the U.S. to “completely cancel all unilateral tariff measures” if Washington wants trade talks, in some of Beijing’s strongest comments since the trade row sharply escalated.
The U.S. should “find a way to resolve differences through equal dialogue,” He Yadong, a Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson, said on Thursday.
Beijing also said there were “no economic and trade negotiations between China and the United States,” contradicting repeated comments from Trump that the two sides were talking.
Trump indicated on Tuesday that the 145% tariffs on Chinese goods would be reduced. Trump acknowledged “145% is very high,” during a White House news conference.
He suggested the tariffs “will come down substantially” through negotiations, though not to zero.
In earlier statements, Trump said Washington and Beijing were in talks on tariffs and expressed confidence that the world’s two largest economies would reach a deal over the next three to four weeks. He declined to confirm whether he had spoken directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Edited by Mike Firn and Stephen Wright.
