AsianFin -- U.S. President Donald Trump is again expressing his optimism about about a deal to end trade fight with China, while his trade chief denies on Wednesday any official talks with Beijing are underway.
Credit：Xinhua News Agency
There was a “very good chance” he would reach a deal with China, Trump said during NewsNation’s town hall on Wednesday, adding that he will make the deal “on our terms and it’s got to be fair.”
Trump said more than 100 countries are calling the U.S. “morning, noon and night” to seek a deal on tariffs and he could set deals of 40, 50 or 60% with some countries rather than negotiate. The president saw his administration will strike the first deals with India, South Korea and Japan in weeks as it is negotiating with these Asian trading partners.
Trump the day at the White House blasted China as the “chief-ripper-offer” on trade. “We’ve been ripped off by every country in the world, but China I would say is the leading ... candidate for the ’chief-ripper-offer,” Trump said in a Cabinet meeting.
Responding to a question about when he plans to speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping — Trump said "it'll happen".
Trump played down China's retaliatory tariffs on U.S., suggesting much of what the country sends over to the US isn't necessary for consumers. "Somebody said, oh, the shelves are going to be open," Trump said. "Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know. And maybe the two dolls will cost a couple bucks more than they would normally."
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday also talked about progress in negotiations with trading partners. He told Fox News that U.S. and China are not holding any official talks yet, though he had a call with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng announcing steep reciprocal tariffs on April 2.
Greer echoed Trump that U.S. needs to make a fair deal with China. "Instead of having an economy that's financed by the government, we want to make real stuff and sell it, and it means we have to deal with foreign trade practices that are harmful, including in China," said Greer.
Trump and his team these days repeated signaled they are talking with Chinese counterparts, but Beijing insisted there is no such talks yet.
There have not been any economic and trade negotiations between China and the United States, said He Yadong, a spokesperson with China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) last Thursday, adding that any claims of progress in economic and trade talks between the two countries are groundless and have no factual basis.
The unilateral tariff imposition measures were initiated by the United States and if the U.S. side truly wants to solve the issue, it should face up to the rational voices from the international community and from within the United States, lift all unilateral tariffs on China, and find ways to address differences through dialogue based on equality, said He.
China's stance remains consistent as it maintains an open attitude toward consultation and dialogue. However, any form of consultations and negotiations must be conducted in an equal manner on the basis of mutual respect, He said. "We Chinese are not troublemakers, but we will not flinch when trouble comes our way. Intimidation, threat and blackmail are not the right way to engage with China," He stressed Beijing’s stance.
“None of that is true. For all I know, China and the U.S. are not having any consultation or negotiation on tariffs, still less reaching a deal,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun when asked about the U.S. claims that China and U.S. are having talks and even about to reach a deal.
On a Friday press conference, Guo was questioned by whether the Trump administration tried to reach out to Beijing and if so, is China willing to engage in trade talks. "China and the U.S. are not having any consultation or negotiation on tariffs. The U.S. should stop creating confusion," Guo stated.
