Trump tariffs: President vents at China over Boeing as Beijing denies claims of trade deal talks
Beijing called claims of trade talks ‘groundless as trying to catch the wind’ and having ‘no factual basis’ as Trump insisted they were happening
In a particularly active morning on Truth Social, President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Boeing “should default China” for not taking planes that it had committed to purchase.
The president has alternated between taking a hard line on tariffs targeting Chinese imports, causing markets to plummet, and then having to soothe Wall Street by claiming the U.S. and China are negotiating and progress is being made.
Beijing denied any knowledge of such negotiations, calling his claims “groundless as trying to catch the wind” and having “no factual basis.”
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “China’s attitude is consistent and clear: if you want to fight, we will fight to the end, if you want to talk, the door is open.”
Meanwhile, a dozen states have sued the Trump administration over its “reckless” and “insane” tariff policies.
The states argued the policy was based on a “whim,” and would be an added burden to consumers.
This came as the president warned he could re-impose higher tariffs he previously paused in as little as two weeks.
Trumpworld talks out of both sides of its mouth on tariffs and trade
Could Trump, the ‘puerile president’, now sink the global economy?
Here’s what stopped Trump in his quest to oust Fed chair Jerome Powell- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says China has ‘opportunity for a big deal’ with US as trade war appears to cool
Republican lawmaker wants Federal Reserve protected from political influence
A Republican lawmaker said President Donald Trump’s “made the right call” in clearly stating he would not fire the Federal Reserve chair, but said the central bank must be protected from political influence
"The president made a wise decision," said Frank Lucas, who chairs the House Financial Services Task Force on Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience and Economic Prosperity. “We didn't need any more uncertainty in the markets.”
In an interview with Reuters, Lucas said he wants the taskforce to find policy initiatives that can bolster the Federal Reserve’s independence when Congress returns next week.
"It's not a government-owned bank. It's owned by the banks. And, yes, the president nominates with Senate confirmation the governor and the board of directors. But they are independent," Lucas said.
"Demonstrating that monetary policy is not going to be a political game of whoever the president is - and not just this president, but the next two or three or five or 10 presidents - I think that would be a stabilizing force.”
Oregon Attorney General says states are ‘pushing back’ at Trump’s tariffs
Oregon’s Attorney General said American states have decided to fight Donald Trump’s “unlawful” tariff policy, saying it will hurt ordinary Americans.
Attorney General Dan Rayfield co-led the coalition of top lawmakers from a dozen states in the lawsuit, which challenges the executive orders introducing sweeping tariffs.
Those levies include the 145 percent tariff on goods from China, 25 percent tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent duties on products from most other countries.
Rayfield said: “These tariffs hit every corner of our lives – from the checkout line to the doctor’s office – and we have a responsibility to push back.”
Ann Donaca, who is a personal support worker for her son, who has Down Syndrome, said the tariffs were causing more suffering for her family, which was already living hand to mouth.
Donaca said: “We, the people, are sinking.”
Beijing reiterates that no trade talks have begun with U.S.
Beijing says it willing to negotiate with the U.S., but talks are yet to begin.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said U.S. claims talks had begun were false, after President Donald Trump on Wednesday said there had been “direct contact” between the countries.
Guo said: “None of that is true. For all I know, China and the U.S. are not having any consultation or negotiation on tariffs, still less reaching a deal.”
Guo said in a press conference that China’s position has not changed: “We will fight, if fight we must. Our doors are open, if the U.S. wants to talk. Dialogue and negotiation must be based on equality, respect and mutual benefit.”
Beijing warns U.S. to ‘stop threatening China’ if it wants a trade deal
China’s foreign ministry warned a trade deal can only be reached if Washington stops “threatening and blackmailing China”.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Beijing has an opportunity to strike a “big deal” with America, but warned the country had to move away from relying on exports and boost its domestic consumption.
Asked to respond to Bessent’s comments, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said: “The truth, which is clear to all, is that the U.S. tariffs are seriously undermining the WTO rules and harming the common interests of all countries.
He continued: “Let me stress again that this tariff war is launched by the U.S., and China’s attitude is consistent and clear. If a negotiated solution is truly what the U.S. wants, it should stop exerting extreme pressure, stop threatening and blackmailing China, and seek dialogue based on equality, respect and mutual benefit.”
A timeline of Trump’s on again, off again tariffs
Donald Trump’s tariff policies have changed at a rapid pace. Here are the key moments so far:
- January 20 - Announces 25 percent tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico.
- February 1 - Adds 10 per cent tariffs on China.
- February 10 - Puts 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum exports to the U.S.
- March 4 - Canada, China and Mexico tariffs come into effect.
- March 26 - Announces 25 percent tariff on all cars and car parts shipped to the U.S.
- April 2 - Reveals 10 percent tariff on nearly all countries exporting goods to U.S, and even higher reciprocal tariffs for dozens of nations.
- April 9 - Higher tariffs take effect, but within hours, announces a 90-day pause – except the general 10 percent increase. China tariffs are lifted to 145 percent.
- April 11 - Trump administration exempts electronic goods.
- April 12-13 - Trump says new tariffs on semiconductors and chips will be introduced, administration says tech exemption will be temporary.
- April 23 - Trump says the paused tariffs could be reintroduced within two or three weeks, unless deals are made
New, star-spangled portrait of Trump hung in White House
A new portrait of the president has been hung in the White House, depicting the president’s face painted with the United States flag.
Its position is also interesting, having been hung between gold-framed portraits of former first ladies Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush.
Florida congressman Jimmy Patronis shared a photo of the new display on X, saying the portrait went up on Tuesday.
Trump claims Democrats trying to ‘keep murderers’ in the U.S.
Donald Trump has claimed that Democrats were trying to “keep murderers” in the US.
In an early spray on Truth Social, the president said: “THE DEMOCRATS ARE FIGHTING LIKE HELL TO KEEP MURDERERS, AND ALL OTHER TYPE OF CRIMINALS, SOLIDLY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THEY HAVE GONE CRAZY, AND ARE ONLY GETTING WORSE!!!”
Trump did not post any other context, but earlier this week a delegation of four Democrats traveled to El Salvador to “fight like hell” for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was incorrectly deported there.
The Trump administration has deported hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants it claims are gang members or criminals to a notorious jail near the country’s capital.
That push comes after the Supreme Court made an extraordinary ruling in the early hours of Saturday morning to block the White House from deporting a group of Venezuelans under the Alien Enemies Act “until further order of this court”.
Americans ‘will pay more at the checkout’ because of tariffs, top state legal adviser says
New Mexico’s Attorney General Raul Torrez says Donald Trump’s tariffs will “hurt working Americans”.
Torrez joined a coalition of 12 state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to block the Trump administration’s tariff policies, claiming the president did not have the authority to unilaterally introduce the duties.
“The American people will pay more at the checkout line because of these unlawful tariffs imposed by the Trump administration,” Torrez said.
“We were promised that prices would go down—but instead, these tariffs are driving up the cost of everyday goods for families across the country. Without a legitimate state of emergency, the President does not have the authority to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs that hurt working Americans.”
He continued: “Our communities should not have to shoulder the burden of bad policy decisions, and I will see this lawsuit through to ensure the American people are protected from unnecessary and unjustified financial strain.”
Trump claims egg prices are down, but are they?
Donald Trump says prices for key goods,including eggs, have plummeted.
“Gas and grocery prices are WAY DOWN, just like I said they would be. Eggs are plentiful, and down 87%. NICE!” he said in a post on Truth Social.
But where is he getting this from?
As of April 21, gas was $3.141 a gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, down 0.027 cents on the previous week, and 0.527 cents lower than a year ago.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics published inflation data for March on April 10, and an NBC price tracker for key grocery items including chicken breast, bacon, bread and orange juice showed that on April 8, prices were mostly flat.
The latest US Department of Agriulture report on the national egg market, from April 18, shows egg prices have also largely held steady.
However, they’ve held steady after some wild movement – our own data reporting shows egg prices in March were 60.4 percent higher compared to a year ago.
Analysis: Why Trump's tariff inconsistency will give investors heartburn
Washington Bureau Chief Eric Garcia writes that Trump’s tariffs might upset the tummy of Wall Street, but its the inconsistency that will give investors heartburn:
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