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President Donald Trump said Monday the U.S. would allow 600,000 Chinese students to attend American colleges. The decision may signal a softening in relations between the two countries, which have traded threats and tariffs for months. He added, “It’s a much better relationship economically than it was before with Biden. But he allowed that. They just took him to the cleaners.”

Trump followed up his comments on Chinese student visas by talking about tariffs, suggesting that while he is open to continued engagement with Beijing, his administration will not stop applying pressure on Chinese economic and trade practices.

The announcement, made from the White House lawn, comes as the Trump administration continues to apply economic pressure to Beijing in the form of blanket tariffs and threats of more to come.

“I hear so many stories that we’re not going to allow their students,” Trump said. “We’re going to allow their students to come in. It’s very important, 600,000 students. It’s very important. But we’re going to get along with China.”

Trump has been engaged in a trade war with China for months. The Trump administration imposed a 145 percent tariff on Chinese goods in January. Beijing has responded with a 125 percent tariff on U.S. exports. The tariffs have raised fears of a long-term economic standoff between the U.S. and China.

Negotiators in Geneva agreed in May to halt new tariffs, but Trump has threatened additional tariffs in the weeks since. Last week, Trump suggested the U.S. could place a 200 percent tariff on Chinese-made magnets, which he said Beijing has an “artificial monopoly” over.

“China, intelligently, went and they sort of took a monopoly on the world’s magnets,” Trump said Monday. “It’ll probably take us a year to have them.”

The agreement to allow 600,000 Chinese students to study at U.S. colleges would more than double the current 270,000 Chinese college students in the country.

Trump’s announcement reverses a hardline stance on Chinese student visas. In May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration would “aggressively revoke” visas for Chinese, especially if they’re coming here and studying and they’re part of the Chinese Communist Party.”

Universities in the U.S. raised alarm at the announcement, and many in the higher education community have since pushed back on the policy. Trump, for his part, has since appeared to take a more positive tone on the issue.

In June, Trump told reporters he “always has been in favor of taking students.” His comments on Monday indicate that this may remain the case.

Trump made the comments shortly before a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Trump was asked whether he would be open to meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He said he would like to meet Xi this year.

“We have a very good relationship with China from a financial standpoint,” Trump said. “But they have to play fair, because right now they have taken advantage of us to a certain extent.”

He added, “It’s a much better relationship economically than it was before with Biden. But he allowed that. They just took him to the cleaners.”

Trump followed up his comments on Chinese student visas by talking about tariffs, suggesting that while he is open to continued engagement with Beijing, his administration will not stop applying pressure on Chinese economic and trade practices.

Trump’s administration could stand to gain financially from the agreement. American universities rely heavily on foreign students, including those from China, for tuition. The extra students could provide a much-needed financial boost to schools still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic.