XI JINPING HAS SPENT HIS CAREER PREPARING FOR TARIFF FACEOFF. IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH

However, neither leader has picked up the phone to begin trade talks.

“The president, as I said from the podium just a few days ago when I was up here, would be gracious if China intends to make a deal with the U.S.,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday. “If China continues to retaliate, it’s not good for China.”

Reporter: President Trumps has said China wants to make a deal… Why doesn’t he just pick up the phone and get this ball going?

Leavitt: He would be gracious if China intends to make a deal. If China continues to retaliate, it’s not good for China. The United States of America… pic.twitter.com/wOhF29pqkm

— Acyn (@Acyn) April 11, 2025

Trump bet China, which sells five times more products to the U.S. than it takes in, has more to lose in a trade battle and, therefore, would blink first.

Leavitt stressed that message during the afternoon news briefing.

“The United States of America is the strongest and best economy in the world, as evidenced by the more than 75 countries that have called the administration immediately to cut deals,” she said. “The president wants to do what’s right for the American people. He wants to see fair trade practices around the globe, and that’s his intention and his goal.”

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She answered indirectly when asked if Trump wanted Xi to make the first move.

“I’m not going to comment on communications that are happening or may not be happening,” Leavitt said. “We’ll leave that to our national security team to get these discussions underway. As always, in the name of transparency, we will provide updates moving forward, but the president has made it very clear that he’s open to a deal with China.”