Trade Deal
WASHINGTON: The United States has expressed a willingness to reach a new trade agreement with China, but officials have made it clear that the next step must come from Beijing.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Donald Trump remains open to negotiating a deal with China, but emphasized that the responsibility for initiating talks lies firmly with the Chinese government.
“The ball is in China’s court: China needs to make a deal with us, we don’t have to make a deal with them,” Leavitt said, quoting President Trump directly. She added that Trump had personally instructed her to convey this message during a meeting in the Oval Office.
According to Leavitt, the president believes China is in a weaker economic position and more dependent on access to American markets. “China wants what we have… the American consumer, or to put another way, they need our money,” she added, underscoring Washington’s stance that the United States holds leverage in the ongoing trade standoff.
Tensions between the two economic superpowers have escalated further in recent days. On Friday, China imposed new tariffs on American imports, raising some levies to as high as 125% in response to the United States increasing its own tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%.
President Trump also announced a temporary pause on proposed tariffs targeting imports from other nations, focusing instead on pressuring Beijing.
Despite Trump’s occasionally complimentary remarks about Chinese President Xi Jinping, neither side has made significant efforts to de-escalate the conflict. The two leaders have not met for direct negotiations in recent months, and communication between trade officials has reportedly been limited.
Leavitt reiterated that while President Trump remains optimistic that a deal could eventually be reached, it will not come at the expense of American interests.
She contrasted China’s response with that of several other nations, which, faced with Trump’s aggressive tariff policies, opted to enter negotiations with Washington.
Beijing, on the other hand, has chosen to retaliate rather than seek compromise, further intensifying the trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
As the standoff continues, both sides appear to be digging in their heels, with the United States insisting that any meaningful progress must begin with concessions from China.
