U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that his administration remains in active negotiations with multiple countries on trade deals, with China at the forefront of those talks. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump emphasized that while no direct communication was planned this week with Chinese President Xi Jinping, American and Chinese officials were engaged in what he described as "conversations on a variety of different things." His key objective, he stressed, was simple: achieving a fair trade deal.

The announcement comes amid a turbulent global trade atmosphere that has seen the United States unleash a barrage of tariffs targeting multiple countries. Since April 2, Trump has imposed sweeping 10% tariffs on goods from most nations, with even steeper penalties directed at close allies and major rivals alike. Canada and Mexico have been hit with 25% tariffs, as have steel, aluminum, and autos across the board. China, however, remains the hardest-hit, with a staggering 145% tariff rate levied on its exports to the United States.

Despite the confrontational stance, Trump projected a degree of optimism in an NBC News interview that aired Sunday. He revealed that China was eager to return to the negotiating table, driven by the weight of the economic strain the trade war has inflicted on both economies. “They want to make a deal very badly,” Trump said. “We’ve gone cold turkey. That means we’re not losing a trillion dollars ... because we’re not doing business with them right now.”

This "cold turkey" approach, according to Trump, is intended to pressure Beijing into accepting terms that would eliminate what he sees as longstanding imbalances in U.S.-China trade. He reiterated a familiar narrative, accusing China of “ripping us for many years” and citing the historical opening of U.S.-China diplomatic ties by former President Richard Nixon as a pivotal misstep. “It was the worst thing he ever did,” Trump bluntly asserted, cementing his belief that the United States has been taken advantage of for decades.

While specifics remain sparse, Trump hinted that new trade announcements could be made as early as this week. "That could very well be," he said when asked directly about the possibility, though he did not provide details. It’s unclear whether any pending announcements would reflect deals that mitigate existing tariffs or simply signal further rounds of reciprocal penalties, especially given the looming deadline for the 90-day tariff pause implemented in early April.

Some of Trump's comments suggest that not all trading partners are on the path toward resolution. “We might just be setting a certain tariff,” he stated, referring potentially to those countries with whom talks have stalled or broken down entirely. With reciprocal tariffs set to go into effect on July 8 after their suspension, the clock is ticking for both sides to reach mutually beneficial terms.

The strain on global trade is already being felt. In China, activity at ports such as Yantian in Shenzhen—a major export hub—reflects the ripple effects of reduced trade flow. American imports of Chinese goods have significantly slowed, and the broader global economy is beginning to show signs of disruption from Trump’s aggressive trade tactics.

This escalation marks a return to Trump’s hardline stance on economic nationalism, a hallmark of his first term and a cornerstone of his current re-election campaign. With inflation concerns, industrial slowdown, and growing fears of global recession on the rise, many analysts argue that the White House’s combative approach to trade—especially with China—could deepen economic uncertainty in the months ahead.

Yet Trump appears undeterred. Framing the trade conflict as a necessary battle for long-term American economic sovereignty, he argues that short-term pain is an acceptable price for rebalancing a system he claims has been unfair for decades. “It’s got to be a fair deal,” he repeated, underscoring his demand for structural reforms in China’s trade practices, including issues like intellectual property theft, forced technology transfer, and state subsidies to Chinese firms.

The stakes of the ongoing U.S.-China trade standoff are immense. The two nations represent the world’s largest economies, and their bilateral relationship impacts markets, supply chains, and investor confidence globally. Any breakthrough—or breakdown—in talks could trigger swift shifts in stock markets and reshape trade strategies for multinational corporations.

Despite the growing tension, some experts believe that Trump's more conciliatory tone during his NBC interview may be an opening for compromise. By signaling that China “wants to make a deal very badly,” the president may be leaving the door open for a diplomatic solution before the July tariff deadline. Whether that leads to a formal agreement, or simply another round of escalating penalties, remains to be seen.

For now, the world watches closely as Washington and Beijing navigate one of the most consequential trade conflicts in modern history. With economic nationalism on the rise and globalization facing unprecedented strain, the outcome of these negotiations could redefine not just U.S.-China relations, but the very fabric of international commerce. As President Trump insists on a "fair deal," the definition of fairness itself may be the most contested terrain of all.