President Donald Trump revealed for the first time on Thursday that the United States is in talks with China on a tariff deal. Trump said a deal could be reached in the next three to four weeks.
Earlier Thursday, Trump met with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni at the White House amid a tariff standoff with the European Union. The talks came a day after Trump met with Japanese officials and spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Meanwhile, Trump is criticizing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, saying his "termination cannot come fast enough" after Powell said he expects Trump's tariff policy to cause higher inflation and slower economic growth.
Trump accepts Meloni's invitation to visit Italy, possibly meet with European leaders
President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni released a joint statement on Friday morning following their meeting on Thursday in Washington. In the statement, the two leaders "confirmed their resolve to promote a mutually beneficial relationship and further strengthen the U.S.-Italy strategic alliance across security, economic, and technological issues."
President Donald Trump meets with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Oval Office of the White House, April 17, 2025, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP
They also said Trump accepted Meloni's invitation for a visit to Italy "in the very near future" and possibly to hold a meeting then between U.S. and European leaders.
Apr 18, 2025, 4:40 AM EDT
US port fees receive a 6-month reprieve
United States businesses, importers, retailers and farmers are breathing a sigh of relief as President Donald Trump's administration announced a phased-in implementation of port fees on "Chinese" vessels, starting with $0 for the first 180 days, rather than the previously announced $1 million to $1.5 million per port of call.
Shipping containers at the Port of Miami stand in front of the skyline of Miami, April 9, 2025.
Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images
The fees, which initially had the potential to be cumulative, or more than $3 million for the affected ships for vessels that are made in China — or operated or owned by a company with any Chinese vessels in its fleet or on order — had drawn unprecedented outcry from the people and companies whom it would affect, since they are already facing increased costs because of tariffs.
Had the fees been issued starting Thursday, as was initially expected, experts predicted that most ships would skip smaller ports for larger ones, creating supply chain and labor issues.
“Currently, ships visit an average of three to four U.S. ports, both large and small, to move American cargo,” Nate Herman, senior vice president of policy for American Apparel & Footwear Association testified before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in March. "The United States has more than 300 ports — but only 10 major ports."
"If the proposed fees are implemented in every port call, shippers will likely reduce their port visits to just one U.S. port to minimize costs. As a result, calls to secondary ports would largely cease. These secondary ports would face a significant decline in business, leading to potential closures and significant job losses for American longshoremen," Herman told the USTR.
-ABC News' Soo Youn
Apr 17, 2025, 6:34 PM EDT
Trump says US is talking to China about a tariff deal
Trump revealed for the first time that U.S. and Chinese teams are discussing a deal on tariffs and that he thinks a deal could be achieved in the next three to four weeks.
Pressed by ABC News' Rachel Scott and other reporters, Trump would not say whether he had spoken directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Asked by Scott if Xi had reached out to Trump to initiate a conversation, Trump replied, “Well, you think it was pretty obvious that he has, but we will talk about that soon. It's not that important because honestly, we're going to have a deal. I believe we're going to have a deal with China,” Trump said. “And if we don't, we're going to have a deal anyway because we're going to set a certain target and that's going to be it.”
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after signing a proclamation in the Oval Office at the White House, April 17, 2025 in Washington.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Asked whether the Chinese have reached out since Trump raised the retaliatory tariff against China to the 145%, Trump said, "A lot, I mean, a lot. All the time, we’re talking."
When asked whether he'd spoken to his Chinese counterpart, Trump said: "I don't want to say that. It's---it's just not appropriate."
But when pressed, he obfuscated when asked whether he'd actually spoken to his counterpart.
"I mean, I've never said whether or not they’ve happened, but I have a very good relationship with President Xi, and I think it's going to continue. And, I would say they have reached out a number of times," Trump said.
-ABC News’ Rachel Scott, Fritz Farrow and Michelle Stoddart
Apr 17, 2025, 2:49 PM EDT
McConnell 'not yet convinced' the tariffs are 'the best way to go'
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told ABC News' Jay O'Brien he's not convinced President Donald Trump's tariffs are "the best way to go" during a gathering in Kentucky on Thursday.
Sen. Mitch McConnell speaks at an event at the Glasgow-Barren County Rotary Club in Glasgow, Ky., on April 17, 2025.
ABC News
"Put me down as not yet convinced that this is the best way to go, but we'll see. Maybe it will turn out the way that the president would like for it to turn out, but that is unfolding as we speak," he said.
McConnell noted he's "never been a tariff enthusiast."
"As you know, the administration has a different approach. Let me just tell you I hope that it succeeds," he continued.
