Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich expressed concerns on Wednesday regarding the U.S.-China diplomatic relations, suggesting that the Trump administration should approach dealings with Beijing with a fair amount of skepticism.
While he participated in a Swiss conference at the Trump administration’s invitation, Gingrich criticized the U.S. tariff increase and stated that he would resist external pressures. In an appearance on “Kudlow,” he noted that China has a history of disregarding international agreements that conflict with its strategic ambitions.
When asked about the meeting in Switzerland, he remarked, “I think they’ll meet and agree that they should meet, it’s not a big deal. But Churchill once said, ‘Jaw, jaw, jaw is better than war, war, war.’ So I’m completely fine with talking to the Chinese.”
Gingrich emphasized that discussions with China should always be accompanied by stringent verification processes.
“The main takeaway is that it’s not merely about trust, but also about verification,” he stated. “You have to assume they’ll try to deceive you regarding any agreements, so it’s crucial to establish contracts that can be monitored consistently.”
Recently, President Trump announced a 90-day suspension of mutual tariffs, revealed in a Truth Social post shortly after announcing a hike on Chinese exports to the U.S. During recent hearings, Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent indicated that the administration is in negotiations with 17 key trading partners, but has yet to engage with China.
As Trump intensifies tariffs to economically isolate China, Beijing is actively pursuing trade agreements worldwide. In light of U.S. pressures, China is strengthening its relationships with nations like Vietnam, Malaysia, and parts of Europe, attempting to mitigate the impact of rising tariffs that have hit some goods hard.
Vietnam and Malaysia have deepened their trade agreements with China, both crucial for Beijing’s export strategy amidst the increasing tariffs imposed by the U.S. Vietnam imported $135 billion in Chinese goods last year and secured a new agreement during Xi Jinping’s visit, while Malaysia continues to be a major supplier of crude oil, bringing in $65.5 billion worth of Chinese products.
