Trump Hints At Trade Talks With China As Tariff Deadline Looms, Beijing Signals Resistance

As a fresh wave of United States (US) tariffs on Chinese goods looms, former President Donald Trump has suggested imminent talks with China, raising speculation about a possible delay, as reported by Bloomberg first.

Speaking to reporters on Monday (3 February), Trump said discussions would take place “probably over the next 24 hours.” His remarks come after he postponed tariffs on Mexico and Canada, having struck last-minute agreements on border security and drug trafficking.

Trump had earlier announced that 10 per cent tariffs on China would take effect at 12:01 am on Tuesday, but signalled they could be subject to negotiation.

“If we can’t make a deal with China, then the tariffs will be very, very substantial,” he warned. Meanwhile, the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index surged 3.6 per cent and the offshore yuan gained nearly 1 per cent, reflecting cautious optimism in financial markets.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarified that Trump plans to discuss “illegal Chinese fentanyl that is killing tens of thousands of Americans every single year” with President Xi Jinping.

“The president has made it very clear to China that we are not going to tolerate that,” she said. Leavitt also pointed out that Trump’s first-term tariffs remain in effect.

Beyond trade and fentanyl, Beijing’s controversial TikTok ownership may also be on the agenda. The social media giant, owned by ByteDance Ltd., has been deemed a national security threat, and Trump has given the company 75 days to find a US partner.

“GREAT INTEREST IN TIKTOK!” Trump posted on Truth Social, adding, “Would be wonderful for China, and all concerned.”

China’s initial response to the tariff threat has been measured. The Commerce Ministry expressed “strong dissatisfaction” and vowed “corresponding countermeasures,” including filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO). However, Beijing has historically waited until tariffs are enacted before retaliating.

Chinese state media, however, remain sceptical of Trump’s approach. China Central Television (CCTV) questioned the link between fentanyl and trade, arguing that tying the issues together would “only make governance of this problem more difficult.”

In a scathing critique, CCTV asked, “What’s the logical relationship between fentanyl and tariffs? The world can’t solve this ridiculous question.”

With the US and China’s economic standoff escalating, all eyes remain on whether Trump will proceed with his latest tariff threat — or opt for last-minute diplomacy.