Former Georgia Republican Senator David Perdue was sworn in as U.S. ambassador on Wednesday, President Donald Trump spoke about the timing of the ceremony as trade between the two countries is about to begin.
“We are in the next Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China.
The Senate confirmed Perdue in a 67-29 vote on April 29. His oath-in ceremony came as China and the United States began trade negotiations on the country in recent months.
"Our new ambassador brings a lifetime of experience at the highest level of business and politics," Trump said. "And he is at the highest level. Over the past four decades, he has led several major U.S. companies, including the president and CEO of Reebok, the president and CEO of the footwear giant, where he did a great job and did a great job. Later, the CEO of Dollar of Dollar General. Again, he did a great job. He worked hard in Singapore and in the grand leadership of the country. He worked with him."
Scott Bessent
President Donald Trump spoke at the oath of office in the White House on May 7, 2025. New Chinese ambassador David Perdue spoke at the oath of office. (Getty Image)
"Say hello to Xi when you get there," Trump told Perdue.
The Trump administration's tariffs on Chinese goods are as high as 145% as the president wants to balance the country's chronic trade deficit with foreign countries. Trump paused the April 2 reciprocal tariff plan for dozens of countries in April, as the country called on the government to engage in a trade deal, but he traded China as the country rebuked Trump's trade policies with its own tariffs, including a 125% U.S. commodity tax.
Chinese President Xi Jinping at the meeting. (Minh Hoang/AP)
Minister of Finance Scott Betting U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is scheduled to meet with his Chinese counterparts in Switzerland over the weekend to discuss economic matters, Bessent said on Fox News on Tuesday.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, leftist and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is scheduled to meet with his Chinese counterparts in Switzerland over the weekend. .
China's economic hardship threatens real war in the battle of tariffs
"We shared the interest," Bessent said. "As I said before, it's not sustainable, especially on China - and, 145%, 125% is an embargo. We don't want to disband it - what we want is fair trade."
Ministry of Commerce of China Officials are "evaluating" the Trump administration's proposal to hold trade talks on U.S. tariffs on 145% of Chinese goods, it said Friday.
"The United States has adopted the initiative several times recently to convey its message to China through relevant various related topics and expressed its desire to talk to China," the statement said. According to Reuters.
U.S. officials meet with Swiss Chinese counterparts in trade war
"Trying to use conversation as an excuse for coercion and blackmail will not work," the statement added.
Trump and the administration have previously said they are willing to engage in trade talks with China, including the president on April 8 saying: "We are waiting for their call. This will happen."
President Donald Trump, Bonnie Perdue and David Perdue put photos at the swearing-in ceremony. David Perdue (Getty Image)
Trump continued at the Pedda ceremony that Perd will help lead to the allegations that ended the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl entry into the United States, and Trump violated the issue of entering the United States while using tariffs to end illegal drugs.
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"They have to stop fentanyl from entering," Trump said. "It will be a big part. I got to know about President XI before I left last time. We made a deal and he would cash it out. But when Biden came in, of course nothing happened. And, bringing the murderer out of my country's work, so many bad things happened."
Ashley Carnahan of Fox News Digital contributed to the report.