US President, Donald Trump has defended his moves on tariffs in a meeting with his Cabinet.

This came a day after he announced a 90-day pause on his reciprocal tariffs, with the exception of China.

After taking a victory lap, Trump on Thursday, April 10, 2025, acknowledged some problems could be expected.

“A big day yesterday. There will always be transition difficulty – but in history, it was the biggest day in history, the markets. So we’re very, very happy with the way the country is running. We’re trying to get the world to treat us fairly.

“We think we’re in very good shape. We think we’re doing very well. Again, there’ll be a transition cost and transition problems, but in the end, it’s going to be a beautiful thing.”
Donald Trump

The US President praised his Cabinet, whom he has tasked with plans on how to proceed with trade deals and negotiation with China in what is becoming an intensifying trade war with Beijing.

“Everyone at this table is doing an incredible job, by the way, I have to say. Incredible. And the relationships are – it’s like they’re friends, they’re really. The relationships are very strong, really good, really strong. And these meetings are very good.”
Donald Trump

Trump Expresses Optimism That US And China Will Reach Deal Over Tariffs

Stressing his good relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Donald Trump expressed optimism that the US and China would eventually reach a deal over tariffs.

Blaming former Presidents for what he called China ripping the United States off, Trump stated, “We’ll see what happens with China.”

“We would love to be able to work a deal. They’ve really taken advantage of our country for a long period of time.

“We’re resetting the table, and I’m sure that we’ll be able to get along very well. I have great respect for President Xi. He’s been, in a true sense, he’s been a friend of mine for a long period of time, and I think that we’ll end up working out something that’s very good for both countries.”
Donald Trump

Trump brushed off China’s move to cut the number of American movies shown in the nation, suggesting it is a weak form of retaliation against his tariffs. “I think I’ve heard of worse things,” Trump said.

Also, Trump stated that “all countries are different” when it comes to negotiating tariffs, however not the European Union.

When pressed by a White House reporter, however, if the European Union will be treated as a block or individual nations for the tariffs, Trump was quick to respond, “one block.”

The President went on to claim his retaliatory tariffs on China, now at least at 145%, made the EU halt counter-tariffs on the US.

The EU announced earlier today that it would pause its retaliatory US tariffs “to give negotiations a chance,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Trump touted, “They were ready to announce retaliation, and then they heard about what we did with respect to China.”

“They said, you know, we’re going to hold back a little bit. Look, the EU is very smart, but they really have taken advantage of the United States.”
Donald Trump