President Donald Trump says China has been reaching out “a lot” following his decision to nearly triple tariffs on Chinese imports, hinting that a trade deal could be struck in just a few weeks.
Speaking to reporters after signing executive orders on deregulating the seafood industry, Trump said high-level Chinese officials have made multiple attempts to re-engage since he increased tariffs from 54% to a staggering 145%. When asked how many times they’ve contacted him since the hike, Trump replied bluntly: “A lot.”
Though Trump didn’t confirm whether he’s spoken directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping, he told the press, “I have a very good relationship with President Xi, and I think it’s going to continue.” He added that any communication from top officials would be with Xi’s full knowledge, saying, “If they reached out, he knew exactly — he knew everything about it. He runs it very tight, very strong, very smart.”
Trump’s comments follow media reports that he is refusing to be the first to call Xi, even as officials on both sides push for direct talks. “They always have a right not to do it,” Trump noted. “But we have something that nobody else has — the American consumer.”
The president remained confident that his pressure campaign is working, predicting a breakthrough soon. “Over the next three or four weeks, I think maybe the whole thing could be concluded,” he said.
Despite the aggressive tariff move, Trump said he’s in no rush to finalize a deal, pushing back on calls to speed up negotiations. “There’s plenty of time,” he said, explaining that the U.S. has all the leverage.
“If we don’t make a deal, we’ll just set a limit. We’ll set a tariff. We’ll set some parameters, and we’ll say, ‘Come in and shop,’” Trump said, framing the U.S. as the world’s must-have marketplace.
The remarks came just days after Trump met with Japanese trade representatives and ahead of talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. With major countries reassessing their trade strategies in response to Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, China is now showing signs it doesn’t want to be left behind.
The pressure on Beijing comes at a bad time for Xi, whose economy is already staggering under slowing growth and mounting global distrust. Some analysts believe Trump’s tariffs are boxing China into a corner, forcing them back to the negotiating table.
The big question now is whether China will accept terms that prioritize American industry — or walk away and risk further economic fallout. Trump, for his part, made it clear: either they make a deal, or America moves on without them.