Trump has surprising answer when asked about China tariff war as he signals major U-turn

Donald Trump had a somewhat surprising response when he was asked by a reporter about the ongoing China trade war.

Ever since Trump returned to the White House for his second term as president in January, he has gone hard with the tariffs and executive orders.

While many countries have slammed Trump's controversial tariff plans, the trade war with China is one that is particularly interesting.

On April 2, Trump inflicted a series of reciprocal tariffs on its trading partners across the world.

20 percent tariffs had already been applied on goods from China, which was then hiked by 34 percent (to a combined total of 54 percent) on so-called 'Liberation Day'.

China immediately filed retaliatory measures on the US which included 15 percent tariffs on US farm products, ten percent on crude oil and agricultural machinery, and 34 percent on all US goods.

President Trump has been hard on the global tariffs (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

The ongoing trade war reached new heights after Trump snapped back with a 84 percent levy, rising the total of Chinese imports to a whopping 104 percent.

China hit back once more by hiking its retaliatory tariff to 84 percent on US goods, but the games didn't stop there.

Trump raised the tariff on China to 145 percent, and then to 245 percent, while pausing the tariff plans for all other countries for 90 days as China raised tariffs on all US goods to 125 percent, while also reducing exports of rare earth minerals.

Now, the 47th POTUS has suggested a potential u-turn may be on the cards amid the ongoing trade war.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday (April 22), Trump said: "145 percent is very high and it won’t be that high. It won’t be anywhere near that high. It’ll come down substantially. But it won’t be zero."

Despite tensions having clearly been heightened in recent weeks, Trump insisted to the media he has a 'very good relationship' with Chinese president Xi Jinping.

Reporters asked Trump if he was going to play hardball with China in relation to a deal - something the president was quick to dismiss.

"No, no, we’re going to be very nice. They’re going to be very nice, and we’ll see what happens. But ultimately, they have to make a deal, because otherwise they’re not going to be able to deal in the United States, and we want them involved.

"I think we’re going to live together very happily and ideally work together, so I think it’s going to work out very well."