China-US Trade: President Trump optimistic about trade relationship with China

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US President Donald Trump has praised China's approach to the discussions the two countries are currently having on trade. Trump said the situation isn't a trade war, but is really a trade negotiation instead. Our correspondent Jim Spellman reports from Washington.

U.S. President Donald Trump- sounding optimistic about the trade relationship with China and praising Chinese President Xi Jinping.

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "So, we have the kind of relationship that, I think is going to be very aggressively sustained. As you know President Xi, made a very good speech and he said he's going to open up China. He's going to open it up take down a lot of the trade barriers, maybe all of them, but take down a lot of trade barriers."

Trump's comments come after two weeks of mixed messages on trade from The White House. The administration has proposed tariffs on a total of 150 billion dollars' worth of Chinese goods. Some officials have suggested the proposed tariffs could be a bargaining ploy. Trump considers it negotiating.

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "We put a 50 billion dollar tariff on, then we put a 100 billion dollar tariff on. You know, at a certain point, you run out of bullets. Remember what I said, when you're 500 billion down, you can't lose a trade war and I won't call it a trade war because it's really a trade negotiation."

In his speech at the Boao Forum President Xi spoke in favor of globalization and free trade. On Thursday, China.s Ministry of Commerce echoed that support of multilateralism, while standing firm against the U.S.

GAO FENG MINISTRY OF COMMERCE SPOKESMAN "China has always been a staunch supporter of the multilateral trading system, resolutely opposing unilateralism and safeguarding the multilateral rules. At the same time, we will take any proper measures to resolutely fight back actions that infringe upon the rights and interests of China."

As Trump made his comments at the White House, business representatives were testifying before a congressional committee about U.S. tariffs, with some supporting the idea.

SCOTT PAUL ALLIANCE FOR AMERICAN MANUFACTURING "Withdrawing the threat of tariffs without achieving results would be tantamount to waving the white flag of trade surrender."

And others saying the new U.S. steel tariffs and are actually hurting U.S. businesses and more tariffs will have a negative impact on the U.S. economy.

KEVIN KENNEDY PRESIDENT, KENNEDY FABRICATING "The raw steel targeted with these tariffs makes up half the cost of our products and our customers won't pay for a 40% increase. At least that's what they've told us and our lack of new orders recently confirms that."

JOHN WOLFE NW SEAPORT ALLIANCE "Tariffs should be a measure of last resort."

Adding to the mixed messages out of Washington, President Trump has instructed his economic team to look into rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, according to a Republican Senator who attended a trade meeting at The White House.

JIM SPELLMAN WASHINGTON "Trump campaigned against U.S. participation in TPP-a multilateral trade agreement meant, in part, to blunt China's economic influence. He pulled the U.S. out of the deal shortly after taking office, but since then has said he would rejoin if terms were more favorable to the U.S. Jim Spellman, CGTN Washington."