President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Tuesday about reaching a trade deal with China, despite ongoing tensions between the two nations. He stated that while China is eager to negotiate, they seem unsure about how to initiate the discussions.
Trump’s comments came after the U.S. imposed a significant 34% tariff on Chinese goods, prompting China to retaliate with a matching tariff on American products. In a post on Truth Social, he mentioned that he is waiting for China to make the first move and believes that an agreement will eventually be reached. He also highlighted that South Korea appears ready to negotiate a deal with the U.S.
The trade conflict escalated when Trump set a deadline for China to withdraw its retaliatory tariffs. He warned that if China did not comply by Tuesday, he would consider imposing an additional 50% tariff on Chinese imports. This new tariff would add to the existing 34% and a previous 20% tariff that was implemented shortly after he took office.
In response to Trump’s threats, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. condemned the actions as "blackmail" and insisted that their tariffs were legitimate measures to protect their interests. They emphasized that trade wars benefit no one and called for respectful dialogue to resolve the issues.
Trump’s post also reflected his confidence in negotiating with other countries. He mentioned that South Korea is sending a top delegation to the U.S. for talks, and he noted that several other nations, including Japan, Vietnam, and members of the European Union, have shown interest in making trade deals.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added that nearly 70 countries are looking to engage in trade agreements with the U.S. and that meetings with these nations will take place in the coming weeks.
As the trade war unfolds, the future of U.S.-China relations remains uncertain, but both sides appear to be feeling the pressure to find a resolution.