(NewsNation) — House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer said he is hopeful the United States and China can reach a trade agreement ahead of President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week.
Trump is expected to meet with Xi between May 13 and 15.
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“I hope we can get some kind of trade agreement between the United States and China,” Comer said Monday during “Morning in America.”
“You know, the tariffs have been helpful in some areas and hurtful in others. But at the end of the day, it’s about America first. The goal is to try to bring American manufacturing back onshore.”
US-China trade battle intensifies under Trump
Trade tensions between the U.S. and China have increased since Trump returned to office in 2025, with both countries imposing steep tariffs in an ongoing economic standoff.
Trump-Xi summit comes with high stakes for Taiwan, the island democracy that China claims as its own
Trump introduced a 20% tariff on Chinese imports, blaming Beijing for failing to stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States. He later expanded those measures on his self-described “Liberation Day,” announcing an additional 34% tariff on Chinese goods.
Chinese exporters faced mounting inventory and slowing shipments, while U.S. businesses rushed to secure alternative manufacturing sources outside China.
Beijing responded with retaliatory tariffs aimed at major American industries, including agriculture, putting added pressure on U.S. farmers already caught in the middle of the trade dispute.
Rep. James Comer: U.S. must bring critical industries home
Comer argued that while China may manufacture some products more cheaply, the United States must restore domestic production in sectors tied to technology, national defense, and pharmaceuticals.
“There are some things China can manufacture cheaper than the United States, and they’re a better deal for the American consumer,” Comer said. “But there are a lot of things that the United States must manufacture here and not in China.”
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While the U.S. does not purchase weapons from China, it remains heavily reliant on Chinese rare earth elements used in radar systems, jet engines, fighter aircraft and missile guidance technology.
Comer also stressed the importance of avoiding military conflict with China while pursuing trade negotiations.
“I hope at the end of the day they can negotiate some type of trade agreement, as well as a peace agreement,” he said. “We don’t ever need to get into a war with China. They are a big country, they have a lot of money, and they have a lot of advanced technology.”
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