Trump “Negotiating with most countries including China… No scheduled call with Xi Jinping”

President Trump asserting dominance in negotiations with China (Source: Yonhap News)

President Donald Trump of the United States announced that he is currently negotiating trade with major trade partners, including China. On the 4th (local time), President Trump, who met with reporters while traveling from Palm Beach, Florida, to Washington, D.C., on a private plane, said, “We are negotiating with almost every country, and I will make the final decision.”

Regarding the possibility of direct conversation with President Xi Jinping of China, he drew a line by saying, “There is no call scheduled for this week.” However, he implied that the window for dialogue is not completely closed by stating, “Working-level teams between the two countries are discussing other issues.”

He claimed, “We are not currently doing any trade with China,” and said, “Tariffs are so high that they are virtually unable to trade with the United States, and thanks to this, we are saving billions of dollars.” He further pointed out, “We want fair trade, but China has exploited the United States for a long time,” adding, “We may have to consider some retaliatory measures.”

When asked about the timing of future deal resolutions, he predicted, “It depends on me, not them (China),” and expected that a draft agreement could be prepared within 2 to 3 weeks. He also emphasized, “Some countries have recorded enormous surpluses in trade with the United States,” and declared, “I will no longer be taken advantage of.”

This statement by President Trump reaffirmed a tough stance of maintaining dominance by continuing tariff pressure, and an analysis suggests that direct talks between the U.S. and Chinese leaders may not be achieved for the time being. At the same time, as the direction of U.S. trade policy still depends on Trump's personal judgment, market uncertainty is expected to continue.