Are you open to pulling back your tariffs in order to get China to the negotiating table?

No.

China said the U.S. initiated the trade talks this weekend and that its position hasn't changed.

Are you still confident you can reach a deal with China?

They said we initiated it?

Well, I think they ought to go back and study their files.

Okay?

I do think that.

President Trump's standing firm on his sky-high tariffs there on Chinese imports ahead of trade talks.

The question is, can any progress be made if neither country wants to appear like it's the one making concessions?

Also ahead will bring you the latest on the papal conclave after black smoke billowed out of the Sistine Chapel's chimney yesterday.

The question is, will we see white smoke today?

Plus, we'll have an update on the major travel issues at Newark Airport as the FAA announces

plans to finally address them.

The question is, how long will it take to fix those problems?

It's way too early for this.

Good morning and welcome to way too early,

the show that hasn't watched a chimney this closely

since Christmas. I'm Ali Vitale on this Thursday, May 8th, and we'll start with the news.

Cardinals are still meeting in secret this morning to elect a new Pope. They're wrapping up their

first of four votes today, and as of now, no smoke has emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signifying no selection

has yet been made. See it there. A second vote immediately follows, during which time black or white

...