Washington: The White House affirmed that US President Donald Trump remains optimistic about the possibility of reaching a trade agreement with China, despite rising tensions and escalation of reciprocal tariffs between the two countries.
According to Qatar News Agency, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt stated during a press briefing on Friday that the President has made it clear he is open to reaching an agreement with China, while noting that China’s continued retaliation against US measures will not serve its interests.
She added that President Trump hopes to finalize trade agreements with other countries before the 90-day deadline he set for new negotiations, explaining that more than 75 countries have reached out to the United States to address trade issues, and nearly all responded wisely to the President’s warnings.
Leavitt also revealed that the White House has so far received 15 offers from countries expressing interest in reviewing their trade relations with the United States. She stressed that President Trump promised to be very generous in negotiations with China, provided that Beijing shows good faith.
In a related development, President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social platform that tariff policy is going well it’s a very interesting move for America and the world, and it’s moving quickly.
He noted that his administration plans to intensify trade talks with several countries, despite growing criticism from economic and political circles.
On Friday, China raised tariffs on US imports to 125% in response to President Trump’s decision to hike tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%.
In a statement, China’s Ministry of Finance said that the United States’ imposition of abnormally high tariffs on China is a serious violation of international trade and economic rules, as well as fundamental economic principles.
This tariff escalation comes as China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that it has filed a lawsuit with World Trade Organization (WTO) challenging US tariff measures.