Trump says 'no' to bringing down tariffs for China before negotiations

Trade officials from the U.S. and China are set to meet for their first round of negotiations in Geneva this weekend.

Despite some momentum building up between the two major economies, Trump says he's not lowering any tariffs for Beijing before trade talks begin.

Lee Seung-jae reports.

Amid escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, U.S. President Donald Trump said he won't lower his 145 percent tariff on Chinese imports before trade talks happen between the two countries.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump was asked if he would be "open to pulling back" on his tariffs in order to bring China to the negotiation table, to which he simply replied "no."

The comments come as Beijing said earlier that meaningful negotiations would only happen if Washington lowers the 145 percent tariffs first.

His comments come as a meeting between U.S. and Chinese trade officials is set to take place in Geneva on Saturday.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are set to meet with China's economic chief He Lifeng, in what could be the first step towards de-escalating tensions between the two economic powers.

Speaking to Fox News earlier this week, Bessent said the trade talks will center mostly on de-escalating tensions, and not on a "big trade deal."

Last month, President Trump raised import duties on Chinese goods to 145 percent, despite scaling back on his reciprocal tariffs on almost all other U.S. trading partners.

China retaliated with steep tariffs on U.S. goods, further escalating the trade tensions.

Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.