Kevin Hassett, the director of the National Economic Council, indicated on Sunday that there may be an opportunity for President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping to engage in discussions regarding trade as early as this week.
While Hassett expressed optimism about a potential dialogue between the two leaders, he clarified that no firm date has been established yet.
“We expect President Trump will have a productive conversation concerning the trade negotiations with President Xi this week,” Hassett stated during an appearance on ABC News’ “This Week.”
He further noted that while the specifics have yet to be confirmed, there have been discussions about focusing on the Geneva agreement, a deal to which the U.S. is inclined to favorably consider.
“The expectation is that both sides are willing to engage in conversations,” he remarked.
Hassett added that discussions are occurring regularly, mentioning that U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer’s team is in daily contact with Chinese officials to facilitate progress on trade matters.
A potential conversation between Trump and Xi would represent a significant move forward in the ongoing trade negotiations, particularly following a recent meeting between the two leaders in Switzerland, which led to a 90-day trade arrangement.
However, tensions flared last week when Trump accused China of breaching elements of the preliminary trade agreement with the U.S.
“So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!” Trump remarked in a social media post.
In comments to reporters on Friday, Trump indicated that he anticipated a discussion with Xi regarding the allegations linked to the trade agreement.
Other members of the Trump administration have been vocal in their criticism of China’s pace in trade negotiations, hinting at additional discussions in the near future.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described China’s approach as “just slow-rolling the deal.”
“I think slow-rolling is the most accurate term to use here, and I believe Donald Trump is well aware of the situation,” Lutnick commented on “Finance Newso News Sunday.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also noted last week on Finance Newso News that trade discussions with China appeared to be “a bit stalled,” but expressed confidence that further talks would be scheduled soon.
