Trump believes in ‘good chance’ of China trade deal as US envoy says no talks under way
President continues to promote tariff policy as US Commerce Department releases data indicating GDP contracted for first time in 3 years
“Will we make a deal? There’s a very good chance we’re going to make a deal … and it [has] got to be fair,” Trump told US cable channel NewsNation on Wednesday.
“We were ripped off by China, we were ripped off by everybody, but really by China. They were the king of ripping off the United States.”
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‘Fake news’: Chinese officials dismiss claims of US trade war consultations
Trump repeated his recent openness to renewed trade talks with Beijing, but his comments came shortly after US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said no official negotiations with China were under way.
Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, Greer added that Washington sought a fair trade relationship with the world’s second-largest economy.
“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,” Greer said.