US President Donald Trump said he was reluctant to continue to raise customs duties in China, as this was able to wrap the trade between the two countries, and insisted that Beijing repeatedly tried to negotiate an agreement.
In an interview with journalists in Oval Hall on Thursday, Trump said officers who believed that Chinese leader Xi Jinping was trying to start calls. But he repeatedly avoided direct questions if he and XI had kept direct contact.
“I have a very good relationship with President XI, and I think this will continue. And I would say they contacted several times,” Trump said.
When he pressed if XI had contacted him directly or if they were Chinese officers, Trump replied: “Well, the same thing. I see a lot in the same way. It would be China’s high Echelons.”
“If you knew him,” Trump continued and referred to XI, “would know that if they came in contact, he knew exactly. He knew everything about it, he controls everything very stiff, very strong, very intelligent.”
The United States and China intensified import taxes on an economic conflict between the two superpowers, part of a broader wave of extensive customs duties that Trump tried to impose large business partners. He has increased the new prices for a total of 145% compared to Chinese products, while Beijing retained with 125% customs over the United States.
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On Thursday, Trump said he was reluctant to continue to increase these prices and suggested that he could be open to reduce them.
“At one point I don’t want them to increase anymore, for any time you get people not to buy. So maybe I don’t want to increase, or maybe I don’t want to get to that level,” Trump said. “Maybe I want to reduce, because you know, you want people to buy.”
Even with tariffs at extremely high levels, the two countries seem to be stuck in their positions, with the White House that China should contact first and Beijing says it is unclear what we require is.
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Trump still expressed confidence in an agreement that would include commercial concessions and an agreement to sell TikTok assets in the United States.
“Well, we have an agreement on Tiktok, but it will be covered by China, so let’s just postpone the agreement until this has been resolved,” he said.
Trump had previously said that China’s objections to his new tariffs have delayed an agreement to sell TikTok and keep the popular video sharing app in the United States.
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“I think it’s a lot for China,” Trump said. “Tiktok is good for China. And I think they would like to see an agreement, especially what we have done with some of the best companies in the world.”
When asked if he would take into account the prices if China agreed to sell Bytaddance Ltd. In the United States, Trump said it would be something that could argue with Beijing.
“It’s natural – if we do a deal. I think we will spend five minutes to talk about Tiktok. It wouldn’t take much time,” he said.
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