Trump Claims Serious Trade Negotiations With China to Begin
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BIARRITZ, France — President Donald Trump, facing pressure to scale back a U.S.-China trade war contributing to a global economic slowdown, claimed Aug. 26 that serious talks will begin soon, although another round has been expected in Washington in September.
Trump said his trade negotiators had received two “very good calls” from China on Aug. 25. But a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry said Aug. 26 that he didn’t know what calls Trump was talking about.
Trump expressed his optimism about China hours after he sent mixed messages on the tariff war. He at first seemed to express regret Aug. 25 over escalating the trade dispute, but the White House later said his only regret was that he didn’t impose even higher tariffs on China.
On Aug. 26, Trump claimed the previous evening’s conversations meant China is serious about making a deal. He said later Aug. 26 that talks also had taken place before Aug. 25.
President Donald Trump pauses while speaking during a bilateral meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi at the G-7 summit in Biarritz, France, on Aug. 26. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
“I think we’re going to have a deal, because now we’re dealing on proper terms. They understand and we understand,” Trump said.
He declined to say whether he’s spoken to President Xi Jinping or to identify those involved in the most recent conversations, saying only that they were at the “highest levels.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen them where they really want to make a deal. And I think that’s a very positive step,” Trump added as he met with Egypt’s president on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit.
Whenever he is asked about China, Trump almost always says he believes they want to make a deal more than he does.
He said Aug. 26 that the two sides will begin “talking very seriously,” adding that after the calls he believes the Chinese “mean business.”
The Chinese were unaware of any recent conversations.
“I have not heard of the weekend calls mentioned by the United States,” said Geng Shuang, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry.
A Chinese delegation long had been expected to travel to Washington in September to continue talks and that remained the case after Trump’s escalation Aug. 23 following China’s tariff announcement.
It was unclear if Trump was referring to the previously scheduled talks next month or something else.
Trump’s comments about China came as he acknowledged, for the first time, the surprise appearance Aug. 25 at the G-7 summit by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, and as the international gathering put Trump’s differences with his counterparts on display.
Just wrapped up a great meeting with my friend Prime Minister @NarendraModi of India at the #G7Summit in Biarritz, France! pic.twitter.com/q0NOnEcjFO — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2019
World leaders had encouraged Trump all weekend to de-escalate the conflict with China, he clashed with French President Emmanuel Macron over new France’s digital services tax, and he broke with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in not forcefully condemning North Korea’s recent ballistic missile launches.
But Trump on Aug. 26 repeatedly claimed the reports of disagreements were overblown, starting with the Zarif visit.
After the China trade talks broke down this spring, Trump and Xi agreed in June to resume negotiations. Talks in Shanghai in July ended without any indication of progress, and the White House said at the time that Chinese negotiators would come to Washington in September.
Trump last week hiked tariffs on China after China taxed some U.S. imports in retaliation for a previous round of imports levied by Trump.
The move sent U.S. stock market stumbling.
Trump also “ordered” U.S. corporations to find alternatives to doing business in China and threatened to declare a national emergency to enforce it. He softened the threat Aug. 25, saying he would only consider it if China again responded with raising tariffs on American goods.
Trump also said Aug. 26 that his private golf resort near Miami is the likely venue for next year’s summit, when it’s the United States’ turn to host the annual gathering. He said a final decision has not been made.
Trump said the club, Trump National Doral, is located minutes from Miami’s international airport and has plenty of acreage and properties to accommodate the G-7 leaders and their delegations.
Associated Press writers Joe McDonald in Beijing and Kevin Freking and Deb Riechmann in Washington contributed to this report.
