Donald Trump ‘going to make a deal with China’ over tariffs
US President Donald Trump insists talks with China on tariffs are ongoing despite Beijing’s denials. He made the comments at a cabinet meeting where Elon Musk debuted a cheeky new look.
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US President Donald Trump has revealed his thoughts about a new report which shows his 145 per cent tariffs have contributed to China experiencing a significant slowing down in manufacturing.
China’s National Bureau of Statistics figures show factory activity contracted during the past 30 days at the greatest pace in 16 months after the tariffs were rolled out on April 2.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Mr Trump said China was “doing very poorly right now.”
“I just saw some reports coming out, and I don’t want that to happen to China,” Mr Trump said.
“I was actually saddened to hear it.”
Mr Trump reaffirmed he was continuing to negotiate with China despite Beijing officials repeatedly denying such talks had taken place.
“At a certain point, I hope we’re going to make a deal with China. We’re talking to China,” Mr Trump said.
The President also made reference to the fashion choices of adviser Elon Musk.
Despite reports Mr Musk was no longer working at the White House, the SpaceX boss was present at the cabinet meeting where he chose to wear not one but two hats.
In addition to his often seen Department of Government Efficiency cap, Mr Musk couldn’t resist adding one of the President’s new Gulf of America balanced on top.
“I love the double hat by the way. He’s the only one who can get away with it,” Mr Trump said.
The comment provoked a laugh from Mr Musk.
“I told you I wear a lot of hats. Even my hat has a hat,” Mr Musk said.
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CHINA WILL ‘EAT THOSE TARIFFS’: TRUMP
US President Donald Trump defended his controversial trade policies, saying China is “ripping us off like nobody’s ever ripped us off.”
Clashing with ABC News reporter Terry Moran in a fiery TV interview, the US President doubled down on his China trade war plan, claiming the Chinese will “eat those tariffs” as price hikes would be passed on to American consumers.
When challenged over his ongoing war with China, Mr Trump insisted that voters “signed up for it.”
He also denied that there would be tough economic periods for Americans, saying he believed “great times” were ahead.
It came amid a report that Elon Musk, who is preparing to transition out of his official role with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is no longer regularly working at the White House.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told the New York Post that Musk “hasn’t been here physically, but it really doesn’t matter much”.
“Instead of meeting with him in person, I’m talking to him on the phone, but it’s the same net effect,” she said.
It’s unclear how often the tech billionaire plans to return to the White House before his stint as an unpaid special government employee concludes at the end of May.
TRUMP CONFIRMS ALBO TRADE CALL
The Trump administration has reached the first of the dozens of trade deals it needs to strike during a 90-day tariff pause but has refused to name the country involved.
“I have a deal done, done, done, done, but I need to wait for their prime minister and their parliament to give its approval, which I expect shortly,” US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick revealed.
Donald Trump, headed for a rally to celebrate his 100th day as President, was asked whether he would speak to Australia’s leadership about tariffs.
“They are calling, and I’ll be talking to him, yes,” Mr Trump said.
Questioned on how trade negotiations were going with India, he said: “India’s coming along great. I think we’ll have a deal with India … they want to make a deal.”
Asked if the US President apparently blanking Australian calls was a concern on ABC Melbourne this morning, Mr Albanese said: “Not at all – it’s a lighthearted throwaway comment from the President.”
It came as treasury secretary Scott Bessent said negotiations with India were very close, and that the administrations had also engaged in substantial talks with Japan and discussed plans with South Korea.
The government is racing to negotiate almost 100 individual trade deals after pausing its reciprocal tariffs scheme a fortnight ago.
A 10 per cent baseline tariff which applies to all countries, including Australia, remains in place during negotiations.
HOSTILE: BEZOS AND TRUMP TRADE BLOWS
The White House has launched a scathing attack on Amazon’s plans to display the cost of Donald Trump’s tariffs on goods, describing the move as a “hostile and political act”.
Amazon is reportedly making moves to show consumers how much of the price tag of each product is attributable to the government’s new import levies.
But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted the plan during a press briefing on Tuesday morning local time.
“This is a hostile and political act by Amazon,” she said.
“Why didn’t Amazon do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level in 40 years?”
Amazon sellers have been clobbered by the heavy-handed tariffs, with prices spiking on many goods including electronics, clothing and household appliances by about 30 per cent on average.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was among the tech billionaires to attend Mr Trump’s inauguration in January.
Asked about the state of the relationship between Mr Bezos and Mr Trump, Ms Leavitt would not be drawn.
“I will not speak to the president’s relationships with Jeff Bezos,” she said.
“But I will tell you, this is certainly a hostile and political act by Amazon.”
Ms Leavitt said she had just been on the phone with the President prior to making the comments.
‘NEVER KNEEL DOWN’: CHINA’S DRAMATIC TARIFFS CLAPBACK
China have released a cinematic AI video in defiance of their ongoing trade war with America.
Similar in style to AI clips the Trump administration has released, such as when they were floating their plan to redevelop the Gaza Strip, the video was shared by the Chinese government on social media with the caption “never kneel down.”
An English voiceover tells viewers “bowing to a bully is like drinking poison to quench a thirst.”
“China won’t back down so the voices of the weak will be heard … When the rest of the world stands together in solidarity, the US is just a small stranded boat,” the narrator says.
“Someone has to step forward, torch in hand, to shatter the fog and illuminate the path ahead.”
Never Kneel Down! pic.twitter.com/z8FU3rMSBA
— CHINA MFA Spokesperson ä¸å›½å¤–交部å‘言人 (@MFA_China) April 29, 2025
TRUMP TO PROVIDE TARIFF RELIEF TO CAR MAKERS
President Trump is set to ease the impact of automotive tariffs by partially rolling back levies on imported car parts sources familiar with the matter told The New York Post.
The move means automakers facing Trump’s 25 per cent tariff on imported cars — which was implemented earlier this month — will not also have to pay separate tariffs on materials such as steel and aluminium, individuals briefed on the policy told the Wall Street Journal.
The changes will be applied retroactively, allowing manufacturers to potentially receive refunds for tariffs already paid.
Tariffs planned for imported auto parts, originally set at 25 per cent and scheduled to begin on May 3, will also be adjusted.
Automakers will be allowed reimbursement up to 3.75 per cent of the value of each vehicle produced in the US during the first year.
In the second year, reimbursements would decrease to 2.5 per cent, eventually phasing out completely.
TRUMP MARKS FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE WITH MICHIGAN RALLY
US President Donald Trump is holding a rally in Michigan to mark the first 100 days of his second term, staging his largest political gathering since returning to the White House.
Michigan has been particularly rocked by his steep trade tariffs and combative attitude toward Canada, the state’s northern neighbour.
Mr Trump will give a speech to thousands of supporters at Macomb Community College, north of Detroit.
The 47th US president will mark the milestone in trademark style, seeking to rejuvenate his base with a rally in the battleground state that swung his way in November as he defeated Kamala Harris.
But polls show that the honeymoon period that Americans historically accord presidents at the start of their terms has evaporated for Trump.
A poll published Sunday by The Washington Post and ABC News found that only 39 per cent of Americans approve of Mr Trump’s performance.
But Mr Trump told reporters he was on track to accomplish all of his second-term goals.
“I think either we’ve done everything, or it’s in the process of being done,” he said as he prepared to fly to his rally at a community college in Warren, Michigan.
“He’s amazing. Everybody’s worried about tariffs. We don’t care – look at everything else that’s coming together too,” said Donna Fitzsimons, a 65-year-old merchandise seller at Michigan the rally venue ahead of Mr Trump’s appearance.
“People don’t realise it takes time to get where you need to go.”
‘I WOULD LIKE TO BE POPE’
In a Q&A with reporters, Mr Trump was asked about his preference for the next pope, and he joked: “I would like to be pope. That would be my No. 1 choice.”
In the grand entrance hallway of the White House, Mr Trump has removed a portrait of Barack Obama, the United States’ first Black president, to make way for a painting of himself surviving an assassination attempt.
“Trump is to blame for the fact that life is more expensive, it’s harder to retire, and a ‘Trump recession’ is at our doorstep,” the Democratic National Committee said, calling the 100 days a “colossal failure.”
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Originally published as Donald Trump ‘going to make a deal with China’ over tariffs
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