U.S. President Donald Trump said he won’t consider pulling back the 145% trade tariffs imposed on Chinese goods to spur a trade deal. Asked by reporters on Wednesday if he would consider lowering tariffs to get China to the negotiating table, he simply said, “No.” Asked what he expected of this weekend’s U.S.-China trade talks, Trump said: “We’ll see … we were losing a trillion dollars a year, now we’re not losing anything, you know? It’s the way I look at it.” (CNBC)

China’s Foreign Ministry echoed Egypt’s negative reaction to U.S. President Donald Trump’s comment that U.S. ships should be allowed to pass through the Suez Canal without charge. An Egyptian parliamentarian called the plan “blackmail” linked to Egypt’s opposition to Trump’s plans to displace Palestinian populations. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said: “We firmly support the Egyptian government and people in defending sovereignty and their legitimate rights and interests, and oppose any acts or statements of bullying.” (CHINESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS)