Trump trade rep says new 100% tariff on China depends on Beijing’s next move

President Donald Trump could still slap China with 100% tariffs on Nov. 1 or sooner depending on Beijing’s next move in a dispute over rare earths, 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 have chosen to make this major escalation.”

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

The restrictions took the White House by surprise. Beijing announced the measures 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.

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