President Trump says China is eager to strike a trade deal as U.S. tariffs begin to squeeze Beijing’s economy. With Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent preparing to meet Chinese officials in Switzerland, the administration is doubling down on its strategy to protect American jobs and industries.
Key Facts:
- President Trump stated China “very much wants to make a deal” on trade.
- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet with Chinese officials in Switzerland on Saturday.
- The U.S. imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese goods on April 9, while offering temporary tariff relief to other countries.
- China retaliated with a 125% tariff on U.S. imports but expressed openness to talks if tariffs are lifted.
- Bessent warned that China could lose up to 10 million jobs if tariffs persist.
The Rest of The Story:
Tensions between the United States and China have escalated sharply after the Trump administration launched aggressive tariff measures in April.
Initially imposing broad tariffs on several countries, the administration narrowed its focus, applying a massive 145% tariff specifically on Chinese imports while easing terms for others.
China countered with its own set of steep retaliatory tariffs but soon signaled its willingness to negotiate—on the condition that the U.S. roll back its tariffs.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who will represent the U.S. in Switzerland, acknowledged that formal talks hadn’t yet begun but affirmed that negotiations are expected to move forward.
President Trump, speaking both at the White House and aboard Air Force One, reiterated his long-held belief in tariffs and emphasized the need for a fair trade deal to fix America’s massive trade imbalance and revive domestic manufacturing.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: We have numerous deals. China very much wants to make a deal.
Every country throughout the last forty, fifty years has literally ripped off the United States. We are now making fair deals. pic.twitter.com/OnwN1xp9YZ
— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) May 8, 2025
Commentary:
Despite endless criticism from legacy media, Trump’s trade strategy appears to be having the intended effect.
Beijing’s sharp reversal—first retaliating with tariffs, then signaling a willingness to negotiate—suggests real economic pain on their side of the table.
The 145% tariff hit China where it hurts.
For a country whose economy is deeply dependent on exports to the U.S., the impact is hard to overstate.
When Bessent says 10 million jobs are at risk, that’s not a bluff—it’s a warning backed by real pressure.
And that pressure is pushing China to the negotiating table.
While pundits and professional critics claimed tariffs would backfire and isolate the U.S., the opposite is happening.
China, not the U.S., is blinking first.
Silent backpedaling from Beijing—such as floating talks and potentially reducing their own tariffs—tells the real story.
They’re losing leverage, fast.
Trump’s administration has always said these tariffs were about more than just trade numbers.
They’re about restoring fairness and strength to American industry.
With China importing nearly five times less from the U.S. than it exports, the math makes clear who has more to lose.
This isn’t about isolationism—it’s about strategic leverage.
Trump and Bessent aren’t looking to sever trade; they’re looking to improve it for American workers and manufacturers.
If that means taking a hard line at first, so be it.
What’s more, the administration is in active talks with other nations to secure new trade deals.
America is not retreating from the global economy—it’s renegotiating its place in it on more favorable terms.
Expect a deal to materialize soon.
China can’t afford to bleed jobs, and the U.S. has already shown it’s willing to stay the course until fair terms are reached.
The Bottom Line:
Trump’s tariffs are doing what critics said they couldn’t—forcing China to consider meaningful concessions.
The fear of job losses and economic slowdown is shifting Beijing’s posture from confrontation to cooperation.
If current momentum holds, the U.S. may soon secure a trade agreement that not only narrows the deficit but also strengthens American industry long-term.
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