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US President Trump expressed confidence in securing a “very good” trade deal with China, despite the tariff war, during a meeting with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.
US President Donald Trump meets with China’s President Xi Jinping in Osaka, Japan. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)
US President Donald Trump expressed confidence on Thursday about securing a “very good” trade deal with China, despite the ongoing tariff war between the two nations. Speaking at the White House, he mentioned his optimism while meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was in Washington to discuss tariffs.
While most countries have been hit with a uniform 10 percent tariff by the United States, China is facing much steeper levies—going as high as 145 percent on several products. In response, Beijing has imposed retaliatory duties of up to 125 percent on American goods.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that if Washington truly wants to resolve the dispute through talks, it must stop applying “extreme pressure” and avoid “threats and blackmail.”
“The United States should engage with China on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit,” he said.
“There are no winners in a tariff or trade war,” Lin added. “China does not seek conflict, but it is not afraid of one either.”
The US President, however, was quick to play down the likelihood of reaching any trade agreements as a result of his tariffs. Trump told reporters while meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that “at a certain point” deals would come together.
“We’re in no rush,” said Trump, saying he liked the revenues he expected the tariffs to generate for the US government.
Trump and close ally Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed optimism about resolving trade tensions that have strained US-European relations, ahead of talks at the White House.
Meloni is the first European leader to have a face-to-face with Trump since he announced, and then suspended, 20% tariffs on European exports. Meloni secured the meeting at a critical juncture in the trade war as Italy’s leader, but she also has, in a sense, been “knighted” to represent the European Union, the Associated Press said in a report.
Meloni, sitting across a table from Trump ahead of a lunch at the White House, said she was certain they can make a deal on trade.
“I am sure we can make a deal, and I am here to help with that,” she said.
Trump said that broadly speaking he expected he would make an announcement about trade deals but was in no rush.
“We’re going to have very little problem making a deal with Europe or anybody else, because we have something that everybody wants,” Trump said.
Meloni said she would invite Trump to visit Italy. She also said she expected Italy would announce at the next NATO meeting in June that her country would be able to reach the alliance requirement that each member nation spend 2% of GDP on defense spending.
“We have a very good relationship together and as countries,” Trump said.
- Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
