Trump Says March 1 Deadline Could Slide, but Would Prefer That It Not

President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House Feb. 12 that he might not stick to a March 1 deadline for deciding whether to raise 10 percent tariffs on about $200 billion in China imports to 25 percent. "We have $267 billion that we were very nice about and we're not taxing," he said. "The 10 percent on $200 billion goes up to 25 percent on March 1st. And so far, I've said don’t do that. Now, if we're close to a deal where we think we can make a real deal, and it's going to get done, I could see myself letting that slide for a little while. But generally speaking, I'm not inclined to do that."

Trump said he is comfortable keeping tariffs on Chinese goods if he doesn't get a real deal, "not just a deal that cosmetically looks good for a year." Regarding tariffs, he said of China, "they're paying billions of dollars a month for the privilege of coming into the United States and honestly taking advantage of our country."

Trump said he has no plans to meet with China's president this month or next, but said he expects at some point the two leaders will have to talk in person to finalize the details that negotiators are unable to agree on. "That's the way deals happen," he said.

Sen. Robert Portman, R-Ohio, said Feb. 12 when he was U.S. trade representative and attended trade negotiations with China, there was "a lot of nice talk, and a lot of general commitments, and then you look a couple years down the road, you can't really point to concrete examples where there's been follow-through." So enforceability will be key, he said. "I think the administration is committed to structural reforms at this point," he said, brushing off the possibility that the White House might settle for more purchases but no changes to the country's industrial policies.