Trump says he might not want to raise tariffs on China any higher: 'At a certain point, people aren't going to buy'

[BumRushDaShow]

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]

1. Taken three months, but thought finally penetrated his brain: "if people don't buy I don't get much revenue". . . . nt

[exboyfil]

8. You mean he didn't study price elasticity as a business freshman?

Say it isn't so.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. He sure did study it, but

... it didn't stick because it doesn't apply to scams, grifting, or using other people's money.

[tulipsandroses]

12. I doubt he studied anything. His sister said he paid people to take his exams

I do agree that he has a knack for scams and grifting. Natural talent.

[ananda]

16. Agree. He paid people to take his exams for him.

...

[zorbasd]

15. ..and graduated UPenn as an Econ major

...yeah one professor who thankfully lived long enough to inform the world that Donald was the supidest fucking student he ever had...

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Trump discovers tariff impact

"Hey, Rocky! Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!"

[Bengus81]

24. But the dipshit thinks 125% will be OK......

[pnwest]

3. Huh. Ya think?

[PortTack]

4. Hey.....hello...ppl are already there you dumbass

[IronLionZion]

5. Lots of countries buy from China

they won't lose much if Americans don't buy. It screws Americans who want those products and can't afford it.

[Paladin]

6. I wonder who imparted THAT bit of blazing wisdom to him?

He damn sure didn't come up with it, himself...

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. But his supposed aim is to get people to stop buying Chinese-made goods, and choose American-made instead

If his aim was just to keep them buying the Chinese stuff, but pay more for it, then he's stoking inflation.

[thought crime]

27. Stop buying stuff we don't really need, made anywhere, period.

[Tadpole Raisin]

9. Everything he says is a lie or an effort to hedge and move the goal 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]

11. Spineless Trump is waffling

[republianmushroom]

13. The convicted felon is starting to get it right.

'At a certain point, people aren't going to buy'.

Now we shall is if the MAGArats understand.

[Raftergirl]

14. Just goes show he doesn't know anything about anything. Americans won't stop buying from China because

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]

33. Nobody is buying anything from China with a 145% tariff on it

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]

34. I think people will still buy goods made in China. It's impossible to replace everything that is made there.

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]

17. 'people aren't going to buy'

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]

18. I guess those red hats and merch that are produced there are going to be a lot more expensive.

I hope China raises the tariffs 1000 percent on his stuff!

[Javaman]

19. let's see what he says on Saturday.

he's on his meds now, let's see when he goes off them again.

[BobTheSubgenius]

20. I'm no economist, but isn't that the entire raison d'etre behind tariffs?

Could it be that that suppurating boil has had a revelation?

[brush]

29. "...suppurating boil..." Hahahahahahaha. A perfect description of TSF.

[dalton99a]

21. Nonsense. Make it 2,000%

and wait for Christmas

[Bengus81]

22. LOL....you've claimed for years consumers don't pay the tariff

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]

23. So China slapped him down again.

The cult must be getting dizzy with all this winning.

[appmanga]

31. When his targets aren't intimidated, he becomes a deflated balloon...

...and China has made it plain they're not intimidated.

[AntiFascist]

25. I'm sure Walmart shoppers will be thrilled!

[0rganism]

26. What a goddam idiot

And anyone looking to F47 for guidance or leadership is a damned fool.

[brush]

28. Insane gibberish of a fool.

[LudwigPastorius]

30. I thought trade wars are easy to win, you twatwaffle.

https://www.reuters.com/article/business/trump-tweets-trade-wars-are-good-and-easy-to-win-idUSKCN1GE1E9/

[chowmama]

32. And he thinks that point isn't in the rear view mirror already?

Isn't that cute? (Spoiler alert - no.)