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

President Donald Trump could still impose 100% tariffs on China on Nov. 1 or earlier, depending on Beijing’s next move in the rare earths dispute, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC on Tuesday.

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

China announced drastic restrictions on rare earth exports last week that, if implemented, would disrupt the U.S. defense, technology, semiconductor and automotive industries.

“We cannot let the Chinese keep this regime in place and want to have veto power over high-tech global supply chains,” Greer said.

The restrictions took the White House by surprise. Beijing announced the measures ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit later this month in Seoul, South Korea.

High-level U.S. and Chinese officials spoke as recently as Monday in Washington about the rare earth dispute, Greer said.

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