Trump signals 10% tariff baseline, but leaves room for exceptions

US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed plans to impose a minimum 10 per cent tariff on all imports, while leaving open the possibility of exceptions. 

"You are going to always have a baseline. I mean, there could be an exception. At some point we’ll see, somebody does something exceptional for us. It’s always possible. But basically, you have a baseline of a minimum of 10% and some of them will be much higher," Trump told reporters at the White House on May 10, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

The comments came a day after the US and the United Kingdom reached a framework agreement that preserved a 10 per cent tariff on British goods. Administration officials have emphasised the importance of maintaining this baseline as part of a broader strategy to reduce the trade deficit and support domestic manufacturing.

“The President is determined to continue with that 10% baseline tariff,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt earlier on May 10. “I just spoke to him about it.”

However, Trump’s openness to potential exemptions has added ambiguity to the administration’s stance, particularly as multiple trade negotiations remain in progress.

One such negotiation is with China, where high-level discussions are expected over the weekend. Both countries have levied steep tariffs on each other’s goods in recent years, and Beijing is expected to seek relief from US duties.

In a social media post earlier on May 10, Trump suggested a reduction in tariffs on Chinese imports from 145 per cent to 80 per cent “could be appropriate.” When asked to clarify, he declined to confirm whether 80 per cent would be the floor for future negotiations.

“We’ll see how that all works out,” Trump said, adding that he had identified a level below which he would not go, but declined to disclose the figure.

By Sabina Mammadli