According to US President Donald Trump, his top trade chief, Jameson Greer, plans to speak with his Chinese counterpart in the near future. The primary goal of the meeting is to discuss the recently imposed US tariffs and de-escalate tensions before the dispute escalates into a full-blown "cold trade war."
The move follows Trump's recent decision to slap additional tariffs on Chinese imports, with threats to expand the list as early as April. According to sources close to the administration, the tariffs are the American president's not-so-subtle way of signaling his frustration with the US trade deficit with China, which has ballooned to nearly a trillion dollars.
The US leader also stated he would speak directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping, although he declined to specify a date. "I'll be speaking to President Xi. I have a great relationship with him. We're gonna have a very good relationship, but we have a trillion-dollar deficit," Trump explained, suggesting that while the friendship endures, tariffs are a separate matter.
Notably, Trump has previously vowed to retaliate against any country that dares to impose tariffs on American goods. For now, he remains committed to the belief that a hardline trade stance is the best way to protect US manufacturers.
Perhaps Trump genuinely hopes that his personal charm and diplomatic instincts will help him maintain a friendly relationship with President Xi, even if tariffs continue to rise faster than the friendship itself.
