WASHINGTON, Apr 16 (Alliance News): The United States has expressed willingness to reach a trade agreement with China, but insists the initiative must come from Beijing.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump remains open to striking a deal with China. “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,” she told reporters, quoting the President from an Oval Office briefing.
Leavitt emphasized that China is heavily reliant on American consumers. “China wants what we have… they need our money,” she said.
The latest tensions follow China’s decision to raise tariffs on U.S. imports to 125% in retaliation for Trump’s increase of U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%. The U.S. has paused levies on imports from other countries but has kept pressure on Beijing.
Despite Trump’s earlier praise of Chinese President Xi Jinping, both leaders have stood firm amid a spiraling trade war. “The President has made it quite clear he’s open to a deal—but it’s China that needs to act,” Leavitt reiterated.
While many nations have chosen negotiation paths with Washington to ease trade tensions, China has escalated the dispute, increasing its tariffs and avoiding direct talks.
Trump, however, remains hopeful for a positive outcome in the long-standing economic standoff between the world’s two largest economies.
