United States President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that China is struggling significantly under the weight of U.S. tariffs. Speaking during a Cabinet meeting, Trump said he was saddened to see China “getting absolutely hammered” and noted widespread factory closures, which he attributed to the United States halting imports of Chinese goods. Despite the tough rhetoric, Trump emphasized his personal respect for President Xi Jinping and voiced hope for a future agreement, saying, “We’ll make a deal at a certain point.”

In parallel remarks, Peter Navarro, Senior Counselor to the President for Trade and Manufacturing, told CNBC that the administration is content with its current stance on China. Navarro advocated for quiet diplomacy and emphasized that the best way to handle negotiations with Beijing is “very quietly.” He linked the recent 0.3% GDP contraction in Q1 2025 to short-term fluctuations and predicted that the following quarter would not follow the same trend due to increasing domestic investment.

Meanwhile, the Chinese social media platform Weibo, citing sources via an account affiliated with state media, reported that the U.S. has reached out to China through multiple channels to start discussions on tariffs. Washington is said to be actively pursuing dialogue, but Beijing has denied recent contact, including an alleged call between Trump and Xi, and claimed no tariff consultations are currently underway.

Separately, the European Parliament welcomed China’s decision to lift sanctions against five of its members and the Subcommittee on Human Rights. EP President Roberta Metsola emphasized the importance of unrestrained dialogue with Chinese counterparts, describing EU-China relations as “complex and multi-faceted.”

Although Beijing removed its sanctions on select European officials, the European Union has no current plans to lift its own measures against Chinese counterparts, according to a spokesperson. The development adds another layer to China’s delicate foreign relations landscape while Washington and Beijing weigh their next steps in the ongoing trade standoff.