Leavitt told journalists that President Donald Trump thought that China is trying to conclude an agreement with the United States, but “they don’t know how to start”.
The Trump administration hits China with harder prices after the country did not respect the president’s deadline at 12:00 p.m. Tuesday to raise its reprisals. This occurs after President Donald Trump insisted that China wanted to “conclude an agreement”.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday that an additional 104% rate on Chinese imports would be imposed on April 9. In the Tuesday press briefing, Leavitt also reiterated Trump’s conviction that China is trying to conclude an agreement.
Trump says that Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, knows where he is regarding the prices. (Ton Molina / Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
China refuses to retreat on prices after Trump threatened with more difficult measures
“He thinks that China has to conclude an agreement with the United States. It was a mistake for China to retaliate,” Leavitt told journalists. “The president, when America is struck, he strikes stronger, which is why there will be tariffs of 104% in force this evening at midnight.”
Leavitt added that Trump said he would be “graceful” if Chinese President Xi Jinping was trying to negotiate an agreement.
President Donald Trump holds a painting as he pronounces remarks on reciprocal rates during an event in Rose Garden entitled “Make America Wealthy Again” at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 2, 2025. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images)
China retaliated with 34% prices on American imports
China had to see increased prices as part of Trump’s reciprocal price plan. The additional 104% was probably added due to the country’s refusal to conclude an agreement with the White House.
On April 4, Trump announced a list of prices and said it was a “liberation day”. After the announcement, countries around the world had mixed reactions. Some have sought to negotiate better agreement with the United States, while others, like China, wanted to retaliate.
China has imposed reciprocal prices of 34% on American imports and promised to “fight until the end” and said that it would not give in to pricing threats, which says that it is “blackmail”, ” According to Reuters.
US President Donald Trump attended a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 leaders’ summit in Osaka, Japan on June 29, 2019. (Reuters / Kevin Lamarque / Photo File / Reuters)
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The Trump administration said that China’s non -commercial policies and practices had given Beijing “world domination in the main manufacturing industries”. The administration also accused China of “decimating American industry”.
Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers have warned that profits could drop and apparently try to plan new factories abroad, according to Reuters.
