Donald Trump has posted twice on Truth Social – hinting at a potential softening in his trade war with China. Follow the latest, and listen to the latest Trump 100 episode on the UK-US trade deal, below.
Friday 9 May 2025 16:00, UK
As we’ve been going over the UK-US trade deal which was announced yesterday in our last few posts, now would be a good time to bring you analysis from after the deal was announced from our US correspondent James Matthews.
Donald Trump told Matthews the trade agreement is a “maxed out deal”.
You can see Matthews challenge the president on the deal below.
Matthews wrote later that the event felt like modern politics unplugged.
There was the president flanked by deal negotiators on either side, a ‘shoulders-back’ Team America with Peter Mandelson, UK ambassador, standing as the Brit in the line-up, he said.
So far, so presentational.
But then there was the cast member who joined remotely. Britain’s prime minister was dialled into the phone.
You can read the full analysis here:
Following on from our last post on the UK-US trade deal, here is a clip of how the call between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer on a UK-US trade deal unfolded yesterday.
In Donald Trump’s own words, this was years in the making “but it got there with this prime minister”.
You can watch the call here…
The UK-US trade deal is the first “stepping stone towards something which is more comprehensive”, an economist at Oxford University has told Sky’s Samantha Washington.
Looking at the deal, Linda Yueh said: “If we are in conversation [with the US] that is promising for what may come.”
She also said the deal also showed the UK had a “relationship to foster a better trade deal”.
“This entire negotiation doesn’t change the fact that we are still confronted with a 10% across the board tariff,” she said.
Asked how important it was that the White House first announced a trade deal with the UK, Yeuh added “it is very significant”.
“I think having that conversation means this could be the first stepping stone towards something which is more comprehensive,” she added.
For context: Yesterday, the UK and US struck a landmark trade deal.
As a result of the deal, car export tariffs will be reduced from 27.5% to 10%, to match Donald Trump’s baseline levy.
Separately, the UK steel industry now won’t face high tariffs after the US agreed to scrap the 25% rate for the UK.
Trade talks between the US and China in Geneva this weekend are a positive and constructive step toward de-escalation, a spokesperson for the World Trade Organization (WTO) has said.
As we have been reporting, Donald Trump has floated the idea of cutting US trade tariffs against China to 80%, as key talks between the sides prepare to get under way.
The meeting, involving top officials from both nations in Switzerland, is seen as an opportunity to ease the most damaging element of the trade war in terms of the global economic outlook.
As top officials prepare for US-China trade talks, let’s take a look at where the tariff figures stand currently…
In April, the Trump administration raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145% while Beijing responded with levies of 125% in recent weeks.
But the effects are starting to be felt in both countries in respect of price, supply and business sentiment.
And this week China revealed a series of measures designed to help its economy navigate the effects of the escalating trade war with the US.
Senior officials from both sides are to meet in Switzerland this weekend for what are understood to be the first face-to-face meeting between the world’s two largest economies in months.
Trump has previously suggested that any talks would look to lower tariffs but China has demanded the US moves first.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett has said signs in advance of weekend US-China trade talks in Switzerland are promising and positive.
Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said he spoke with US trade representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury secretary Scott Bessent as they were leaving for the meeting yesterday.
“Everything that’s been going on with the meeting in Switzerland is very promising to us,” Hassett said in an interview with CNBC.
“We’re seeing extreme respect, treating both sides with respect.
“We’re seeing collegiality and also sketches of positive developments.”
Donald Trump isn’t done on Truth Social.
He’s posted again in the last few minutes – this time about trade deals more broadly.
He said “Many Trade Deals in the hopper, all (GREAT!) ones!”
“In the hopper” is an American phrase meaning “in progress”, for those who didn’t know…
Donald Trump is never shy in sharing his views but finding out what China’s government is thinking can be much harder.
We do have a statement, though, released before the US-China talks coming up in Switzerland, which we mentioned in our last post.
A commerce ministry spokesperson said of the prospects for a breakthrough when confirming the talks:
“The Chinese side carefully evaluated the information from the US side and decided to agree to have contact with the US side after fully considering global expectations, Chinese interests and calls from US businesses and consumers.”
Donald Trump has teased the prospect of reducing tariffs on China.
In the first of two Truth Social posts about China, the US president wrote – in his typical all caps style: “CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA – WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DON’T WORK ANYMORE!!!”
Trump, of course, has faced criticism from economists, businesses and others for his tariff policies – which amount to trade barriers making markets less open. He wants to China to take a different approach, it seems…
In a second post shortly afterwards, Trump said: “80% tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B.” (Referring his Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent).
The comments come ahead of a crucial meeting between US and Chinese delegations in Geneva, Switzerland.
Bessent will lead the US team at the talks.
The outcome is eagerly awaited after several rounds of tariff hikes that currently amount to duties of 125% against US imports to China and 145% for Chinese goods arriving in America.
Tap below to read the full story:
We’re restarting our live coverage of Donald Trump, tariffs and US news.
Top US officials are set to meet with a high-level Chinese delegation this weekend in Switzerland in the first major talks between the two nations since Trump imposed tariffs.
But before they do, the US president has floated a China tariff cut.
We’ll bring you the latest shortly.
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