Trump Administration Officials Offer Conflicting Accounts on US-China Trade Engagement
The Trump administration is sending mixed signals regarding the status of trade relations with China, creating uncertainty about the path forward in resolving the ongoing trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testified before the House Appropriations Committee on May 6, stating unequivocally that the United States had not yet entered into trade negotiations with China. Bessent’s statement directly contradicted President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions that discussions with Beijing were underway.
"China, we have not engaged in negotiations with as of yet," Bessent told the committee, casting doubt on the president’s claims.
The trade conflict between the two nations has escalated since the Trump administration imposed tariffs totaling 145% on imports from China, prompting retaliatory tariffs of 125% on U.S. exports by Beijing. Bessent has maintained that China bears the responsibility for de-escalating trade tensions due to its larger trade surplus with the United States.
Despite Bessent’s statements, President Trump has repeatedly suggested that trade talks with China were in progress.
"Everything’s active," Trump told reporters on April 23, responding to a question about whether he was actively communicating with Chinese leaders.
In an interview with Time Magazine published on April 25, Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping had initiated contact with him to discuss tariffs.
"He’s called. And I don’t think that’s a sign of weakness on his behalf," Trump said.
The Chinese Commerce Ministry acknowledged on May 2 that Beijing was "currently evaluating" information conveyed by the U.S. through unspecified channels. However, the ministry emphasized that China would not engage in trade negotiations with the U.S. until Trump rescinded the steep reciprocal tariffs imposed on Chinese goods.
During a May 4 interview on NBC’s "Meet the Press," Trump addressed China’s position, stating that he had no intention of lowering tariffs on China to facilitate negotiations. He indicated that the levies would be reduced at some point in the future.
"Why would I do that?" Trump questioned when asked if he would lower tariffs to bring China to the negotiating table. "At some point, I’m going to lower them because otherwise, you could never do business with them. And they want to do business very much. Look, their economy is really doing badly. Their economy is collapsing."
The conflicting statements from administration officials have fueled confusion and speculation about the true state of U.S.-China trade relations. The lack of clarity raises concerns about the potential for further escalation in the trade dispute, which could have negative consequences for both economies and the global economy as a whole.
Beyond the dispute with China, the Trump administration is actively pursuing trade deals with more than 170 nations, following Trump’s decision to impose universal tariffs on goods from many countries in April. While reciprocal tariffs on goods from many countries were delayed for 90 days, a 10% baseline tariff remains in place for these countries, in addition to the 145% tariffs on China.
Bessent stated that the administration is engaged in negotiations with 17 of the 18 largest U.S. trading partners, with China being the sole exception.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, Trump has yet to finalize a trade deal with any country since the process began. However, Bessent expressed optimism that agreements could be reached soon.
"I would be surprised if we don’t have more than 80 or 90% of those wrapped up by the end of the year," Bessent said, predicting an announcement on at least one country as early as the current week.
"Many of our trading partners have approached us with very good offers, and we are in the process of renegotiating those," Bessent added. "I would think that perhaps as early as this week, we will be announcing trade deals with some of our largest trading partners."
The Trump administration’s trade policies have been met with both support and criticism. Supporters argue that the policies are necessary to protect American industries and workers from unfair competition. Critics contend that the policies are harmful to the U.S. economy and could lead to a global trade war.
The resolution of the trade dispute with China and the success of the administration’s efforts to negotiate new trade deals will be crucial in shaping the future of the U.S. economy and its relationship with the rest of the world. The conflicting messages coming from within the administration, however, add a layer of complexity and uncertainty to the already complex situation.
