White House Reports Progress in U.S.-China Trade Negotiations

The White House expressed optimism about ongoing trade negotiations with China, indicating that progress is being made despite heightened tariffs and retaliatory measures from both sides. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the administration is 'setting the stage for a deal' and that talks are moving in the right direction, a view echoed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who called the current tariff war unsustainable. China, meanwhile, has warned other nations against forming trade agreements with the U.S. that undermine its interests, threatening reprisals against those who do so. Chinese officials have also urged the UK and EU to cooperate with Beijing to uphold the multilateral trading system, while the European Union reaffirmed its commitment to 'de-risking' rather than 'decoupling' from China, clarifying that it will not sever economic ties as a condition for any agreement with the U.S. Despite the tensions and high tariffs—up to 245 percent imposed by the U.S. and 125 percent by China—both sides appear to be signaling a willingness to de-escalate in hopes of reaching a sustainable resolution.