Trump Noncommittal on August 12 China Tariff Deadline, Praises Beijing’s Cooperation
Washington, USA — U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday sidestepped a question about whether his administration would extend an August 12 deadline for sharply higher tariffs on Chinese imports, saying only, “we’ll see what happens,” while praising Beijing’s approach to ongoing trade talks.
“We’ve been dealing very nicely with China. As you have probably heard, they have tremendous tariffs that they’re paying to the United States of America,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “They’ve been dealing quite nicely,” he added, noting his “good relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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The tariff truce between the two economic powers, agreed in May, is due to expire on August 12. Without an extension, U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods would rise to 145%, while Chinese duties on American products would jump to 125%. The original 90-day truce followed negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, and allowed both sides time to seek a broader settlement. Talks resumed in Stockholm in late July but ended without a formal agreement to prolong the deadline.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that Washington was “optimistic” about securing a deal, describing progress as encouraging. Still, Trump has pushed for additional concessions from Beijing, including a call on Sunday for China to quadruple its purchases of American soybeans — a demand analysts say may be unrealistic. The president did not repeat that request during Monday’s remarks.
The latest round of diplomacy comes as both governments face mounting pressure to resolve a trade dispute that has disrupted global markets and strained supply chains. For now, the August 12 deadline remains a pivotal date for investors and businesses on both sides of the Pacific.
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