Officials from the United States and China are presently engaged in ongoing discussions regarding tariffs; however, China has already made certain concessions, which may be interpreted either as a gesture of goodwill or as an implicit acknowledgment that the Trump administration is focused on the communist nation. Recent reports indicate that approximately 25% of all US imports to China have been covertly exempted from the 125% tariffs, totaling $40 billion in American products that will now be available to Chinese consumers without the significant additional tax.
This decision is part of Beijing’s efforts to mitigate the economic impact of President Donald Trump’s sweeping 145% tariff on Chinese goods. Exempted items include pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals. Trade experts informed Bloomberg that the recent policy change by Chinese President Xi Jinping to align with actions taken by Washington was strategic rather than aimed at reconciliation; however, it remains uncertain whether disarmament was prompted by the White House. On Friday, a spokesperson for Xi stated that Chinese officials are currently ‘assessing’ the latest proposal from the Trump administration, marking a significant shift in tone that could facilitate extended discussions regarding a landmark adjustment of the US-China trade deficit.Recently, the United States has taken several steps to communicate with China through appropriate channels, expressing its desire for dialogue, as reported by Reuters. However, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce cautioned that it would not succumb to pressure for an unfavorable agreement, stating that using negotiations as a guise for coercion and extortion would be ineffective.On Thursday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent informed Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo that he is optimistic that Chinese officials are prepared to negotiate after enduring weeks of severe tariffs that could potentially lead to the loss of five to ten million jobs in China’s economy.‘I am confident that the Chinese will seek to finalize an agreement. As I mentioned, this will be a gradual process. Initially, we must work towards de-escalation, and subsequently, we will shift our focus to a more comprehensive trade agreement,’ Bessent remarked.Approximately three weeks ago, President Trump enacted tariffs of 145% on a majority of Chinese goods, leading Beijing to retaliate with 125% tariffs on imports from the United States. Both nations have excluded a select few product categories from these tariffs.For instance, China has recently created an exemption for ethanol imports, highlighting the critical role of this fuel source in their economy. The new approach adopted by Xi stands in stark contrast to the aggressive stance taken by Chinese U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong during a U.N. Security Council meeting last month, which was titled ‘The Impact of Unilateralism and Bullying Practices on International Relations.’In the name of reciprocity and fairness, the United States is engaging in a zero-sum strategy that fundamentally undermines the current international economic and trade framework through the imposition of tariffs, prioritizing its own interests over the collective welfare of the global community and furthering its hegemonic aspirations to the detriment of the legitimate interests of all nations,” stated Chinese U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong during his opening remarks, as reported by Fox News.A spokesperson for the State Department reacted to Fu’s address, deeming it a “misuse of time” for ambassadors and criticizing the gathering as a demonstration of China’s exploitation of the “multilateral system to advance its economic, political, and security objectives.”This occurs as President Trump’s approval ratings have surged to nearly unprecedented levels, despite several days of backlash from Democrats, mainstream Republicans, and major media organizations regarding the president’s bold trade reforms.Trump’s approval ratings rose even following the implementation of extensive tariffs on numerous trading partners on April 2, as indicated by a recent poll conducted by J.L. Partners in partnership with the Daily Mail, which included responses from 1,000 registered voters.The research revealed that Trump’s approval rating rose to 53 percent, reflecting a four-point increase from the previous week’s poll, which recorded a rating of 49 percent.