Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Apr 23: A day after softening his rhetoric on the trade war with China, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to ongoing trade negotiations with China, stating that discussions are ‘going very well.’ Speaking outside the White House on Wednesday, Trump reiterated that the US aims to secure a ‘fair deal’ with China and highlighted that trade talks with various countries, including China and the European Union, were actively progressing.

Trump's remarks came alongside an impromptu announcement about plans to install new flagpoles at the White House, funded personally by him. He emphasized the shift in US trade policy, noting, "Every country wants to partake, even countries that have ripped us off for many, many years. China is an example, but it’s not just China, European Union. They ripped us off for many, many years, and those days are over."

The president further suggested that the US will soon benefit from substantial tax cuts as part of the trade overhaul.

However, concerns about the potential impact of Trump's tariffs on supply chains have been raised. CEOs from major US retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Home Depot, warned that tariffs could lead to price increases and empty store shelves, although prices have not yet been affected. According to an administration official, the retailers informed Trump that while prices remain steady, disruptions to supply chains would likely result in shortages in the future.

Treasury secretary Scott Bessent expressed optimism about a potential deal, stating, "If they want to rebalance, let’s do it together," and emphasized the long-standing issue of global trade imbalances. Bessent criticized previous administrations for assuming that trading partners would drive a balanced global economy, stating, "Instead, we face the stark reality of large and persistent U.S. deficits as a result of an unfair trading system."