US President Donald Trump said he was reluctant to continue raising tariffs on China, as this could wrap trade between the two countries, and insisted that Beijing had repeatedly sought to negotiate an agreement.
In an interview with journalists at the Oval Hall on Thursday, Trump said officers who believed the Chinese leader Xi Jinping tried to start conversations. However, he repeatedly avoided direct questions about whether he and Xi had kept direct contact.
“I have a very good relationship with President Xi, and I think this will continue. And I would say they contacted several times,” said Trump.
When pressed on whether Xi had contacted him directly or if they were Chinese officers, Trump replied, “Well, the same thing. I see very similarly. It would be the high echelons of China.”
“If you knew him,” Trump continued, referring to Xi, “would know that if they got in touch, he knew exactly. He knew everything about it, he controls everything very rigidly, very strong, very intelligent.”
The US and China intensified import taxes on an economic conflict between the two superpowers, part of a broader wave of comprehensive tariffs that Trump tried to impose on major business partners. He has increased the new rates for a total combined of 145% over Chinese products, while Beijing retaliated with 125% tariffs over the US.
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On Thursday, Trump said he was reluctant to continue increasing these rates-and suggested that he could be open to reduced them.
“At one point, I don’t want them to increase anymore, because at some point you get people not to buy. So, maybe I don’t want to increase, or maybe I don’t want to get to that level,” Trump said. “Maybe I want to decrease, because you know, you want people to buy.”
Even with tariffs at extraordinarily high levels, the two countries seem to be firm in their positions, with the White House stating that China should contact first and Beijing saying that it is unclear what US demands are.
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Still, Trump expressed confidence in an agreement that would include commercial concessions and an agreement to sell Tiktok assets in the US.
“Well, we have an agreement for Tiktok, but it will be subject to China, so let’s just postpone the agreement until this is resolved,” he said.
Trump had previously stated that China’s objections to his new tariffs delayed an agreement to sell Tiktok and keep the popular video sharing app operating in the US.
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“I think it’s a good deal for China,” said Trump. “Tiktok is good for China. And I think they would like to see an agreement, especially what we have done with some of the best companies in the world.”
Asked if he would take the rates into consideration if China agreed to sell Bytedance Ltd. In the US, Trump said that would be something that could argue with Beijing.
“It’s natural – if we are making a deal. I think we’ll spend five minutes to talk about Tiktok. It wouldn’t take much time,” he said.
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