Trump's Willingness to Discuss Trade Tariffs with Xi Jinping

At the Oval Office on Wednesday, United States President Donald Trump expressed his openness to engage in discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping concerning the ongoing trade tariffs dispute. "Sure, he is a friend of mine. I like Xi Jinping, I respect him ... I would talk to or meet with Xi Jinping," Trump remarked, highlighting his positive stance towards the Chinese leader.

Trump also shared his views on the intelligence of Xi Jinping, stating, "I am not concerned about escalation between the countries because Xi is 'one of the very smart people in the world.'" This comment underscores Trump's belief in diplomatic resolutions over conflicts.

Recent Tariff Adjustments

Earlier that day, Trump announced a suspension of reciprocal tariffs for 90 days on nations that haven't retaliated, while increasing tariffs to 125% for China in response to its retaliatory actions. Despite these measures, Trump remains optimistic about the possibility of a deal with China, suggesting that China "will ultimately seek a deal with the US but doesn't know where to start."