Washington (TDI): The United States has said it can reach a trade agreement with major economic rival China, but insists that Beijing must make the first move.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday that President Donald Trump is ready for making the trade deal with China.
“The ball is in China’s court: Beijing should make a deal with Washington, we don’t have to make a deal with them,” Leavitt told a media briefing, adding President Trump had given her that statement directly in an Oval Office meeting to use.
“China wants what we have… the American consumer, or to put another way, they need our money,” Leavitt said.
Read More: China Hits Back: 125% Tariffs on US Goods
China raised its tariffs on imports of US goods to 125 percent on Friday in a retaliatory move against Trump, who effectively raised US tariffs on Chinese goods to 145 percent, while putting a pause on planned levies for other countries’ goods.
Trump has described Chinese President Xi Jinping in admiring terms, but neither leader has backed down in an escalating trade war between their two nations.
“The president, again, has made it quite clear that he’s ready for a deal with China. But Beijing needs to make a deal with the US,” Leavitt said.
Read More: Trump Halts Tariffs for 90 Days, Imposes 125% Levy on China
Trump has said he hopes something positive to come out of the trade war between the world’s two leading economies.
But, unlike multiple other countries who have responded to his plans for tariffs by seeking agreements with Washington, China has raised its own levies on US goods and not sought negotiations.
