Donald Trump says trade deal must force ‘structural change’ to end China’s ‘theft of US jobs’
- Talks with China must ‘end unfair trade practices, reduce our chronic trade deficit and protect American jobs’, he says in State of the Union address
- President says before address that he plans to meet Xi Jinping this month
US President Donald Trump said a trade deal with China needs to include “real structural change” to resolve long-standing complaints of unfair practices, as Washington pushes for an enforcement mechanism ahead of a fresh round of negotiations in Beijing next week.
During his nearly 90-minute State of the Union address on Tuesday evening, Trump punctuated his praise of the US economy – “far and away the hottest economy anywhere in the world” – with renewed criticism that Beijing had for decades taken advantage of the country’s “calamitous trade policies”.
“We are now making it clear to China that after years of targeting our industries and stealing our intellectual property, the theft of American jobs and wealth has come to an end,” Trump said, noting his “great respect” for Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“We are now working on a new trade deal with China. But it must include real, structural change to end unfair trade practices, reduce our chronic trade deficit and protect American jobs.”
Although he did not announce details of an expected meeting with Xi later this month, which would likely cement the details of a high-stakes trade agreement, he announced a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on February 27 and 28 in Vietnam.