With the United States and China continuing to impose tariffs of over 100% and amid high-level talks ahead, U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out the possibility of a preemptive reduction of tariffs on China.
On the 7th (local time), President Trump responded "no" when asked by a reporter during the swearing-in ceremony of David Perdue as U.S. ambassador to China, whether he holds a positive stance on withdrawing the tariff of 145% to bring China to the negotiating table.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Vessen and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are scheduled to hold talks starting on the 10th in Geneva, Switzerland, with the Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng.
These remarks appear to suggest that the U.S. side will not take steps to back down, such as reducing tariffs, in order to achieve results in U.S.-China negotiations.
On that day, President Trump strongly denied the Chinese claim that the U.S. had moved first in negotiations with China. When asked by a reporter, he responded, "Did they say we (the U.S.) started first?" and added, "They need to review the records."
When asked whether he would make additional announcements regarding exemptions related to tariffs on household goods, he said, "I want to make tariffs nice and simple, and I'm not considering too many exemptions." He added, "However, I will take a look."
President Trump expressed his hope that the situation between India and Pakistan would "stop," saying, "If there is something I can do to help, I will."
Regarding the war in Ukraine, he said, "We are coming to a point where some decisions need to be made," adding, "It's not a happy situation." However, he did not specify what decisions he was referring to.
In the lead-up to his Middle East trip next week, when asked if he could lift restrictions on semiconductor exports to some Middle Eastern countries, President Trump replied, "I can," and added, "It will be announced soon."
This is interpreted as suggesting that he will ease the export control measures on U.S. semiconductors imposed on some Middle Eastern countries during the previous Biden administration.
In response to a question about reports that the U.S. government is considering changing the designation of the "Persian Gulf" to "Arabian Gulf," he said, "A decision needs to be made regarding (the naming change)," and added, "I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings."