The US 'New York Post' quoted sources reporting that Washington is drafting a plan that may announce as early as next week to lower tariffs on China to 50% to 54%, while tariffs on other South Asian countries will be reduced to 25%.
When discussing tariffs on China, sources said: "During the negotiations, they will lower the tariff rate to 50%."
At the same time, on the 8th at the White House, US President Trump announced the US-UK trade agreement, stating that China's tariffs have reached 145%, leaving no room for increase, and are bound to be reduced in the future.
He said: "So we know it will go down."
Trump looked ahead to the US-China negotiations to be held in Switzerland over the weekend.
He said: "I think it will be a very friendly meeting. They want to move forward in an elegant manner."
He believes that the Chinese side "very much hopes to reach an agreement" and once again stressed the hope to see the Chinese market further open up.
He said: "I think we will have a good weekend with Chinese (officials). I think they have a lot to gain, in a way, they have more to gain than we do. I think this negotiation will be 'substantial', and China wants to take action, to be honest, at this point they have no choice."
When asked if he might speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping after the US-China talks, Trump responded: "I might, of course."
The US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on the same day that it is expected that the US and China will first mutually lower tariffs to ease the situation, which may be the goal of US and Chinese negotiators, and then reach a trade agreement.