Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that President Donald Trump wants to reestablish stronger business ties with China, even as the administration prioritizes rebuilding America’s manufacturing base. His remarks came during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” where he addressed the challenges small businesses face in sourcing American-made goods.
Bessent emphasized that Trump does not support fully decoupling from China. Instead, the president’s goal is to re-open China for U.S. businesses and facilitate trade in non-strategic goods, while focusing on bringing back key industries to the U.S. “We don’t want to decouple with China,” Bessent said. “President Trump actually wants to open up China for business.”
Host Jake Tapper noted that many small business owners support Trump’s agenda to revive domestic manufacturing, but warned that rebuilding supply chains won’t happen overnight. Many products simply aren’t available from U.S. suppliers due to decades of offshoring, and businesses currently have limited options.
Bessent acknowledged those concerns but reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to revitalizing critical sectors like medicine, semiconductors, and steel. “During COVID, we realized we had some very strategic shortfalls,” he said. “The medium-term goal is to bring back these strategic industries as quickly as possible.”
To support small businesses in the near term, Bessent said trade with China will continue for lower-risk consumer goods, possibly under reduced tariff levels. The approach seeks to balance long-term national interests with the immediate needs of U.S. entrepreneurs.
The Trump administration’s strategy aims to strengthen America’s industrial independence without triggering a full economic split with China, reflecting a pragmatic approach to global trade while keeping national security and economic resilience in focus.
The policy marks a shift from earlier trade tensions, aiming to recalibrate rather than sever economic ties with China. By reopening targeted sectors for trade while repatriating strategic manufacturing, the administration hopes to avoid inflationary pressure on small businesses and consumers. Officials say this dual-track approach is designed to promote American economic strength without sacrificing global competitiveness.
