Reside updates: Trump marks 100 days in workplace of second presidential time period

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wouldn’t say if the USA is straight speaking to China to barter a commerce deal.

“We’re not going to speak about who’s speaking to whom,” Bessent mentioned from the White Home briefing room. “Over time, we are going to see that the Chinese language tariffs are unsustainable for China.”

“They promote virtually 5 occasions extra items to us than we promote to them, so the onus will likely be on them to the take off these tariffs,” Bessent added, whereas it was President Trump who sparked the commerce struggle.

Pressed on whether or not the administration is speaking to Beijing about tariffs, Bessent deflected.

“Look, they’ve a unique type of authorities. They’re enjoying to a unique viewers. So I’m not going to get into the nitty gritty once more of who’s speaking to whom. However as I mentioned, I imagine for the Chinese language, these tariffs are unsustainable in a short time,” Bessent mentioned.

Final week in an interview with TIME, Trump claimed that President Xi Jinping referred to as him, however later wouldn’t specify to reporters if he had spoken to Xi since imposing tariffs on China.

“Karoline and I’ve loads of jobs across the White Home, working the switchboard isn’t considered one of them,” Bessent mentioned.

Whereas some retailers have voiced concern, Bessent mentioned he doesn’t imagine there will likely be provide chain shocks because of tariffs on China.

“I feel retailers, they’ve managed their stock in entrance of this. I converse to dozens of corporations, typically day by day, however undoubtedly weekly, and so they know that President Trump is dedicated to honest commerce and have deliberate accordingly,” Bessent mentioned.