WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has announced that talks are underway between the United States and China regarding tariffs, and he is optimistic about the potential for an agreement to resolve the ongoing trade conflict.
“Yes, we’re in discussions with China,” Trump stated during a press briefing in the Oval Office. “I would say they have contacted us several times.”
These negotiations come after Trump raised tariffs on Chinese products to an astonishing 145 percent, a move following China’s response to his broad “Liberation Day” global tariffs.
However, Trump was non-committal when asked if he had had a direct conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, though he had previously alluded to such interactions.
“I’ve never confirmed whether those conversations took place,” he remarked when questioned about talks with Xi. “It’s simply not appropriate.”
When reporters asked if Xi had made any outreach to him, Trump stated: “You’d think it would be evident that he has, but we’ll discuss that soon.”
Trump’s administration is deeply involved in a trade war characterized by escalating tariffs with global powerhouse China, a struggle that has unsettled international markets.
“I believe we are going to achieve a very favorable agreement with China,” he expressed earlier at the White House while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was present for discussions aimed at resolving U.S. tariffs on the European Union.
