The tariff level will likely be about 10 percent, below the 25 percent announced when the administration first said it was considering this round of tariffs, the newspaper said, quoting people family with the matter.

President Donald Trump believes the US has the upper hand in the trade dispute with China and reportedly instructed aides to press ahead with tariffs on $ 200 billion of Chinese imports even as his administration renewed a push for negotiations.

Trump asked for additional tariffs on Thursday during a meeting with senior trade and commerce officials, including treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, who invited the Chinese earlier this week to summarize talks that had been inconclusive. The last round of talks took place in Washington.

There has been no announcement about new tariffs as yet.

"We are under no pressure to make a deal with China, they are under pressure to make a deal with us," Trump tweeted ahead of the last meeting. "Our markets are surging, theirs are collapsing. We will soon be taking Billions in Tariffs & making products at home. If we meet, we meet? "

A higher tariff of 25% is already in force on $ 50 billion worth of imports from China, and the period for public comments on a proposal to extend it to another $ 200 billion worth of goods ended recently. Though an implementation schedule has not been announced as yet, Trump is pushing for it to be rolled out.

Bloomberg, which first reported the new move to impose further tariffs, said when the meeting was held at Thursday's meeting.

Trump has hinted at another tranche of tariffs of $ 267 billion.

"The $ 200 billion we are talking about could take place very soon depending on what happens with them. To certain extent it's going to be up to China, "Trump said.

"And I hate to say this, but that's another $ 267 billion ready to go on short notice if I want. That totally changes the equation. "

The Chinese have confirmed receiving Mnuchin's invitation for talks and welcomed it. "The escalation of trade conflicts does not benefit either side's interests," Chinese trade ministry spokesman Gao Feng said in Beijing on Thursday.

But China is uncertain if talks are leading anywhere and if the US interlocutors speak for their mercurial and unpredictable president.

Trump has eaten under mounting pressure at home from sectors impacted by the tariff war, including soybean farmers in the American mid-west who have been among his staunchest supporters. His options have narrowed considerably as he looks for new levies on imports without driving up prices.

Apple warned last week that some of its most popular products, which are made mostly in China, might become costlier because the $ 200 billion in tariffs is pushing to implement.