President Donald Trump on Thursday predicted “substantive” trade negotiations between the U.S. and China this weekend, saying both sides were eager to reach an agreement. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and top trade negotiator Jamieson Greer will meet Chinese economic chief He Lifeng in Switzerland for what could be the first breakthrough in a long-running trade war.
“You can’t get any higher. It’s at 145%, so we know it’s coming down,” Trump said, referencing current tariffs. He said China has more to gain than the U.S. and expressed hope the talks would proceed “in an elegant way.”
REPORTER: If the talks go well this weekend with China, would you then consider lowering the tariff rate on China?@POTUS: "Well, it could be. We're going to see. Right now, you can't get any higher... I think we're going to have a very good relationship." pic.twitter.com/i3aEGd79J7
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 8, 2025
Asked if he would speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump said, “I might, yeah, sure.”
Trump emphasized that only the outcome matters. “We can all play games. ‘Who made the first call?’ It doesn’t matter,” he said. “I think China wants to do something — and look, they have to at this point.”
