Donald Trump says US is playing ‘nice’ in trade talks with China because of his ‘great respect’ for Xi Jinping
As the US delegation returns from its two-day meeting in Beijing, Trump has promised ‘to bring fairness into trade … one way or another’
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the demands delivered by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other top cabinet officials to their counterparts in Beijing this week were “nice” because he respects Xi Jinping, but added that China was “very spoiled”.
Trump also called for “immediate attention” to resolve bilateral trade issues.
“My people are coming back right now from China and we will be doing something, one way or the other, with respect to what’s happening in China,” Trump said before departing on Air Force One for the National Rifle Association convention in Dallas, Texas.
“I have great respect for President Xi [Jinping]. That’s why we’re being so nice. And we have a great relationship, but we have to bring fairness into trade between the US and China. And we’ll do it.”
In a Twitter post, Trump said he would meet US trade officials on Saturday after they returned from Beijing where they presented Chinese officials with a long list of trade demands.
“Our high-level delegation is on the way back from China where they had long meetings with Chinese leaders and business representatives. We will be meeting tomorrow to determine the results, but it is hard for China in that they have become very spoiled with US trade wins!”
