White House and China Announce Tariff Reduction Plan Ahead of Trump’s Four-Day Trip to Arab Gulf States

President Trump is kicking off the first major overseas trip of his second term on Monday with a 90-day tariff deal with Communist China that sent global markets skyrocketing. The deal will reduce to 10 percent from 125 percent Chinese levies on American imports. America will keep 10 percent tariffs in place as well as an additional 20 percent tariff imposed to punish China for its role in fentanyl shipments that reach American shores.“The United States and China will take aggressive actions to stem the flow of fentanyl and other precursors from China to illicit drug producers in North America,” an announcement issued by the White House reads. In a joint statement, the two nations said they would also agree to “establish a mechanism to continue discussions about economic and trade relations.”The American stock markets surged in early trading on the news after the Japanese and European markets registered big gains. The deal followed surprisingly swift negotiations in Geneva over the weekend between America and China led by Secretary Bessent and the U.S. trade representative, Jamieson Greer, and the Communist Party’s vice premier, He Lefing.The White House issued a statement Sunday night quoting Mr. Greer celebrating “how quickly we were able to come to agreement, which reflects that perhaps the differences were not so large as maybe thought.”The news kicks off a full travel schedule this week as the president looks for other economic wins while pushing Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table, ending Iran’s aspirations for a nuclear arsenal, and securing the release of the last American hostage held by Gaza.The president’s four-day trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE is also a chance to shore up support from wealthy Mideast nations that have deep stakes committed to security agreements and investments with America. In January, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince announced a $600 billion investment in America over the next four years.The UAE, which is designated a Major Defense Partner, has also pledged $1.4 billion over 10 years through a framework of investments in AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and manufacturing. A new presidential plane worth $400 million was not part of the offer. Qatar is America’s second-largest partner in active foreign military sales at $26 billion.Mr. Trump is foregoing a stop in Israel as his top envoy, Steve Witkoff, travels there Monday ahead of the potential release of an Israeli-American hostage, Edan Alexander, by Hamas. Mr. Alexander, the last living American citizen of the 59 captives — 24 of whom are believed to be alive — has been held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, attacks. His release is said to be a gesture by Hamas as negotiators work out a humanitarian aid deal and press Israel for a cease-fire.“Hamas makes it clear that it is ready to immediately begin intensive negotiations and invest serious efforts to reach a final agreement to end the war, reach an agreed-upon exchange of prisoners and a solution for governance in the Gaza Strip by independent professional individuals,” Hamas said in its statement, according to Axios.Mr. Witkoff, who spent the weekend in Oman, is working on multiple fronts to shore up peace prospects in the region, including ending Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Mr. Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar follows travel by Iran’s foreign minister, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, to the Arab nations before resumption of a fourth round of indirect talks with American officials. Mr. Araghchi’s spokesman described the conversation through intermediaries as “difficult but useful talks to better understand each other’s positions and to find reasonable and realistic ways to address the differences.” Also traveling with the president is Secretary Rubio, who will join the president in Saudi Arabia and Qatar before peeling off to Ankara, Turkey, where an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers is being held as a backdrop to negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, whose leaders are expected to meet in Turkey on Thursday for face-to-face discussions. President Zelensky said Sunday that he expects Russia to submit to a 30-day cease-fire that was scheduled to begin Monday but was rejected by President Putin, who has agreed to direct talks on Thursday. Mr. Zelensky has said the cease-fire must precede those talks.“We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary foundation for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in (Turkey) on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses,” he wrote on X.Mr. Trump responded to the stalemate on Sunday afternoon by posting a bifurcated message on TruthSocial calling on Messrs. Putin and Zelensky to reach a deal to end the three-year war. “President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH,” Mr. Trump’s post read. “Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY. At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly! I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who’s too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll, which could not have been won (not even close!) without the United States of America. HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!”

White House and China Announce Tariff Reduction Plan Ahead of Trump’s Four-Day Trip to Arab Gulf States

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