Trump’s trade representative says new 100% tariffs on China depend on Beijing’s next move

US Trade Representative Jamison Greer told CNBC on Tuesday that President Donald Trump could still impose 100% tariffs on China on November 1 or earlier depending on Beijing’s next move in the dispute over rare earth elements.

“A lot depends on what the Chinese do,” Greer told CNBC in an interview. “They are the ones who chose to make this major escalation.”

China announced comprehensive restrictions on… Rare earth exports last week would disrupt the US defense, technology, semiconductor and automotive industries if implemented.

Trump responded by threatening to impose massive tariffs that would effectively shut down trade between the world’s two largest economies.

“We cannot have a situation where the Chinese keep this system in place where they want to have veto power over the world’s high-tech supply chains,” the US Trade Representative said.

The restrictions caught the White House by surprise ahead of an expected meeting between Trump and President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit later this month in Seoul, South Korea.

Greer said Trump and Xi are still scheduled to meet, though he noted those plans are subject to change depending on how the situation evolves.

“Whether it takes place or not, I don’t want to pre-commit ourselves or the Chinese,” Greer said of the meeting. “But I think it makes sense for people to speak up when they can.”

Greer said that American and Chinese officials at the senior level recently spoke in Washington about the dispute over rare earths.

“We believe we will be able to resolve this,” Greer said of the dispute.

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