The White House reacted coolly Tuesday to comments by Chinese President Xi Jinping that seemed to tamp down fears of a trade war between the two countries, saying that while the comments were welcome, the U.S. needs proof that China will follow through.
“The president appreciates President Xi’s kind words, but we want to see more than just words. We want to see action. That is what we are focused on pushing forward, is making sure that we stop the unfair trade practices. That has been what the president is committed to, not just rhetoric, but to action,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.
Sanders said the White House wants to see “concrete action” by China and until then would “continue moving forward in the process and the negotiations.” The U.S. has threatened to hit China with tariffs on $150 billion worth of goods in reaction to its technology policies. China has threatened a similar response against U.S. goods.
In a speech early Tuesday morning in the eastern coastal city of Boao, the Chinese president promised a “new phase of opening up” for foreign companies. He did not directly refer to President Trump or the trade conflict between the two nations, but said, “In a world aspiring for peace and development, the Cold War and zero-sum mentality look even more out of place.” The comments were widely interpreted as softening its stance on a potential trade war.
U.S. stakeholders are cautiously optimistic. “Negotiations are still ongoing, and we are hopeful for a positive resolution,” said Jackie Daniels, spokeswoman for Archer Daniel Midlands.
President Trump tweeted Tuesday that he was “very thankful for President Xi of China’s kind words on tariffs and automobile barriers … also, his enlightenment on intellectual property and technology transfers. We will make great progress together!”
The White House has taken a dim view of China’s promises on trade, though. “It’s a difficult relationship because it’s very easy to get [Beijing] to promise to do things. It’s a lot more difficult to get them to actually do things,” an administration source said last week.
