Washington DC [US]: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed growing questions around the Trump administration’s China policy and ongoing trade talks during a briefing on Tuesday (local time), sharing fresh remarks from President Donald Trump and providing insights into the administration’s position on TikTok and tariffs.
When asked about the possible extension of the TikTok ban deadline to June 19 if China doesn’t come to the negotiating table, Leavitt said,
“Two months is a long time… I don’t want to get ahead. The Vice President continues to lead these negotiations. The President is involved, and they are ongoing.”
Pressed further on whether Trump would consider reducing tariffs to push the TikTok deal through, Leavitt emphasized that Trump’s position on China “is quite clear.”
Quoting a fresh statement from Trump, Leavitt added:
“The President has made his position on China quite clear, although I do have an additional statement that he just shared with me in the Oval Office. The ball is in China’s court. China needs to make a deal with us. We don’t have to make a deal with them.”
She went on to explain the administration’s economic philosophy:
“There’s no difference between China and any other country, except they are much larger. And China wants what we have—what every country wants—what we have: the American consumer. Or to put it another way, they need our money.”
Despite the firm stance, the White House maintains that it’s open to negotiations:
“The President… is open to a deal with China, but China needs to make a deal with the United States of America,” Leavitt said.
On the broader trade picture, Leavitt praised the U.S. trade team’s efforts, mentioning active participation by the U.S. Trade Ambassador, Secretary of Commerce, and Secretary of the Treasury:
“The President is deeply involved in this and he has made it clear to his trade team that he wants to personally sign off on all these deals too.”
Leavitt revealed that there are ongoing discussions with over 75 countries, and the U.S. has more than 15 trade proposals currently on the table.
“We do believe that we can announce some deals very soon,” she added.
CNN recently reported that Trump enacted a 90-day pause on “reciprocal” tariffs to allow time for additional trade negotiations. The pause impacted several nations but excluded China, whose products remain subject to a minimum tariff of 145%, with exceptions for certain electronics.
In response, China has also increased tariffs on U.S. imports, signaling rising trade tensions as both countries position themselves ahead of potential deal-making.