President Donald Trump has signaled that U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports may be lowered eventually — but not just yet.
In a new interview, he also addressed the future of TikTok in the United States and shared his vision for international trade as both the U.S. and China appear to soften their stance on renewed talks.
Tariffs Might Come Down — But Not Now
In an interview taped Friday with NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker, Trump discussed the economic pressure on China amid escalating tariffs.
“At some point, I’m going to lower them because otherwise you could never do business with them,” he said. “They want to do business very much … their economy is collapsing.”
Currently, the U.S. has imposed tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods, while China has responded with levies of up to 125% on American products. After weeks of heightened tensions, recent statements from both sides suggest a possible thaw.
Still, Trump made it clear he would not be the first to blink.
“You’re not dropping the tariffs against China to get them to the negotiating table?” Welker asked.
“Why would I do that?” Trump responded.
China Responds, But Sets Conditions
China’s Commerce Ministry confirmed Friday that it is “currently assessing” proposals from the U.S. to start trade discussions. However, the ministry added that Trump must first “cancel” his “unilateral tariff hikes” before talks can proceed.
The economic impact in China is mounting. Official data showed factory activity contracted at its steepest rate in 16 months as of April. New export orders also hit their lowest level since 2022, when the country was still struggling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
No Call With Xi — Yet
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that he has no plans to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the immediate future. “But China and our people are talking about different things,” he added.
He reiterated that he is looking for a “fair” trade deal and accused China of taking advantage of the U.S. for years. Trump also noted that his administration is negotiating with “almost” every country and hinted that new trade agreements “could very well be” announced this week.
“We’re negotiating with many countries but at the end of this I’ll set my own deals because I set the deal, they don’t set the deal,” he said. Depending on how negotiations unfold, “At a certain point I’ll be just setting a certain tariff number.”
TikTok Deadline Could Be Extended
Trump also addressed the ongoing TikTok situation. The app’s parent company, ByteDance, has been under pressure to sell its U.S. operations due to national security concerns. Congress, under President Biden, passed a law requiring divestment or a potential ban. So far, a deal has not been finalized.
During his NBC interview, Trump said he’s open to extending the deadline again. “I’d like to see it done,” he said, expressing affection for the app and its political utility. “TikTok is very interesting, but it will be protected,” he added.
He credited the platform with helping him connect with younger voters in the 2024 election, saying he had a “sweet spot” for it.y reveal whether softening rhetoric leads to tangible steps toward a new trade agreement—or further delays and strategic maneuvering from both sides.
