Trump Says China Can Open Markets to U.S. Goods, Reiterates Close Ties With Xi

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Jan. 13 — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he believes China can open its markets to American goods and reiterated that he maintains a good personal relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

"I think it's going to happen,"

Trump told reporters when asked whether Chinese markets could open to U.S. products. He did not provide a timetable or specifics on how such access would be achieved.

Relations between Washington and Beijing have been strained for years over trade tariffs, intellectual property disputes, human rights concerns, the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, cybersecurity, and policies toward Taiwan and Hong Kong. Tensions have also been heightened by differing positions on Russia's war in Ukraine.

A day earlier, Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on countries that trade with Iran — a proposal that prompted condemnation from China, Iran's largest trading partner. The president offered few details about how such a tariff would be implemented or which nations could be affected.

The announcement comes as Iran faces some of its largest anti-government demonstrations in years. Iran also saw a 12-day conflict with U.S. ally Israel last year, and U.S. forces struck Iranian nuclear sites in June, developments that have complicated diplomatic and security calculations.

Why It Matters

China's willingness to open its markets would be a significant policy shift with major economic implications for U.S. exporters, but concrete steps or commitments were not outlined. The tariff threat tied to Iran risks widening diplomatic friction if applied to major trading partners like China.

Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Chris Reese and Stephen Coates.