‘China needs to make a deal with us. We don’t have to make a deal with them,’ the White House said.
The next move in the U.S.–China trade war is up to Beijing, the White House says.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking to reporters during an April 15 briefing, said President Donald Trump is open to an agreement with the Chinese regime but that 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,” Leavitt said, quoting the president.
“There’s no difference between China and any other country except they are much larger, and China wants what we have, what every country wants: the American consumer. Or, to put it another way, they need our money.”
Trump has implemented a 145 percent tariff on Chinese goods entering the United States.
China’s finance ministry accused the United States of violating global and economic trade rules through “abnormally high tariffs.”
Last week, Trump suggested that China would eventually come around to negotiating an agreement.
“China wants to make a deal. They just don’t know how quite to go about it,” Trump said during an April 9 White House event. “You know, it’s one of those things they don’t know quite—they’re proud people.”
Approximately $600 billion in annual U.S.–China trade will likely be affected.
Bessent said China requires “a special kind of formula” as it is the country’s largest economic competitor and military rival.
“These are not a joke. I mean, these are big numbers,” Bessent stated. “I think no one thinks they’re sustainable, wants them to remain here, but it’s far from a joke.”
US Examining Trade Proposals
So far, more than 75 countries have reached out to make trade deals in response to U.S. tariffs, Leavitt said, and the Trump administration is actively assessing 15 trade proposals.
U.S. officials are working to “cut these good trade deals,” but the president “wants to personally sign off on all these deals, too,” she told reporters on Tuesday.
“There have been many talks with countries. We’ve had more than 15 deals, pieces of paper, put on the table—proposals that are actively being considered,” she said.
“There’s a lot of work to do. We very much understand that. But we do believe that we can announce some deals very soon.”
Last week, Trump announced a 90-day pause on all reciprocal tariffs with U.S. trading partners except China. For now, countries will be subjected to a universal baseline 10 percent tariff on imports entering the United States.
Trump has signaled flexibility, allowing tariff exemptions for smartphones, laptops, and other electronic products for now. However, top U.S. officials have said these will be short-lived.
In addition, the president told reporters on Monday that he is considering providing “help” for automakers affected by the tariffs.
Leavitt did not provide further details regarding these comments, except that Trump is willing to be flexible.
“He has flexibility when it comes to negotiations and talks, but ultimately, his goal in his fair-trade deals that he is pursuing with many countries around the world is to put the American worker first,” she said.
Bessent, speaking to Bloomberg from Buenos Aires, stated that he thinks the United States will secure multiple agreements before the three-month pause is up.
“There could be numerous countries, and it may not be the actual trade document, but we will have an agreement in principle and be able to move forward from there,” he said.
He also said that allies that are moving quickly would obtain “a first mover advantage.”
“Usually, the first person who makes a deal makes the best deal,” he said.
Several world leaders have been reluctant to hurry a trade agreement.
European Union trade representatives shared a similar message to their U.S. counterparts: The ball is in their court.
“The EU is doing its part. Now, it is necessary for the US to define its position,” European Commission’s trade spokesperson Olof Gil said in a written statement outlining the meeting.
