White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday that President Donald Trump wanted them to know that he would be “incredibly gracious” to China if the country reaches out before the Trump administration imposes a 104% retaliatory tariff.
Trump appears set to make good on his threat to impose an additional 50% tariff on China at 12:01 a.m. ET Wednesday. The president announced the additional tariff after China responded to Trump’s 34% so-called reciprocal tariff with a 34% tariff on United States goods. If China reaches out to negotiate before the massive tariff goes into effect, however, Trump said he will take their call.
“He believes China wants to make a deal with the United States. He believes China has to make a deal with the United States,” Leavitt said in the briefing room. “It was a mistake for China to retaliate. When America is punched,…
