US to set terms if China refuses trade deal: Trump

US President Donald Trump

If China does not agree to a trade deal with the United States, Washington will impose terms it considers appropriate, US President Donald Trump said.

In remarks reported by Reuters, Trump stated that he would be very nice in his negotiations with China, noting that while tariffs on Chinese goods would be significantly reduced once a deal is reached, they would not be eliminated entirely.

His comments followed a closed-door meeting on April 22, during which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly told investors that the ongoing trade standoff with China cannot continue indefinitely, expressing optimism that tensions between Washington and Beijing would ease soon.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt added that efforts are underway to establish the right conditions for a trade agreement with China, despite the absence of direct talks between President Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.