US Trade Chief Calls China Tariffs ‘Pretty Great,’ Plans Joint Tariff-Cut List

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the government will seek public input on which Chinese goods could qualify for lower tariffs, and cautioned that U.S. tariffs on China are likely to stay above those on other nations for the long term. Washington and Beijing have agreed to establish a joint Board of Trade to study reducing or eliminating tariffs on roughly $30 billion of non-strategic goods, with a formal announcement expected soon. The initiative follows Chinese commitments to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft and $17 billion of U.S. agricultural products — a level near historic highs. “I got to retain the tariffs on China, which is pretty great,” Greer said, adding the administration has accepted that no sweeping reforms will alter China’s political system or economic model, but that “managed trade” is now the goal.