The U.S. has not yet kicked off any trade negotiations with China, as both Washington and Beijing have slapped steep tariffs against each other’s imports.

Members of the House Appropriations Committee questioned Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday amid an escalating trade war, where he admitted the U.S. is not currently in negotiations with China.

While testifying on Capitol Hill, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declined to give an estimate for the "X date" — the day when the Treasury can't meet all of its obligations — but made use of a baseball metaphor to indicate it's approaching quickly.