U.S. President Donald Trump addressed reporters during an in-flight press briefing on his return trip from Palm Beach to Joint Base Andrews, with trade negotiations particularly with China taking center stage in his remarks.

Speaking candidly aboard Air Force One, President Trump reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to securing fair and balanced trade deals that protect American workers and industries. “We’re making progress,” he said, referring to the ongoing talks with Beijing. “But we’re not going to settle for anything less than a deal that’s good for the United States.”

The president reiterated his stance on correcting long-standing trade imbalances, emphasizing that past agreements had disadvantaged American manufacturers and exporters. “We’ve been taken advantage of for years,” Trump said. “That’s not going to happen anymore under my administration.”

Although he did not provide a timeline for a finalized deal with China, the president suggested that negotiations were “moving in the right direction,” but warned that the U.S. was prepared to take further action, including the imposition of additional tariffs, if necessary.

President Trump’s airborne briefing follows a series of high-level trade discussions held over recent weeks and signals the administration’s intent to maintain a hardline stance in talks with international partners.