'Ball is in China's court' on tariffs: White House

In the meantime, Trump continues to press China that it's up to Beijing to come to the negotiating table over tariffs, leaving the ball in China's court.

Lee Seung-jae has more.

The two biggest economies in the world have been going blow-for-blow on tariffs, with China imposing 125 percent tariffs on U.S. goods, while the U.S. has imposed tariffs of up to 145 percent on Chinese imports.

With neither side backing down, U.S. President Donald Trump believes it's up to China to come to the negotiating table.

"The president has made his position on China quite clear, although I do have an additional statement that he just shared with me in the Oval office. The ball is in China's court: China needs to make a deal with us, we don't have to make a deal with them."

The White House Press Secretary added that "there's no difference between China and any other country except they are much larger," noting that other countries have initiated trade talks first.

Leavitt also pointed to the strength of the U.S. consumer market as leverage against China.

While trade tensions between Washington and Beijing have been brewing for years, the situation has worsened since Trump took office in January.

While it started off with the U.S. leader imposing tariffs on Chinese goods over its alleged role in the fentanyl trade, it's gone beyond that, with Trump imposing additional tariffs, on top of duties from previous administrations.

Not only has China imposed its own massive tariffs against U.S. goods, but it's also using its rare earth supplies as leverage.

Consumers fear the tariff war between the two countries will only escalate further, with no sign of talks from either country.

Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.