President Trump said Thursday that he may walk out on a potential trade deal with China, saying he is just not satisfied with what they may be offering.
Trump is set to meet with President Xi Jinping starting Friday in Argentina as part of the G20 summit to discuss trade policy, a meeting that could be decisive in whether the U.S. places tariffs on $267 billion in Chinese goods.
“I think we are very close to doing something with China, but I don’t know that I want to do it,” Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for the trip. “I will tell you I think China wants to make a deal. I’m open to making a deal. But frankly, l like the deal we have right now.”
It was the latest example of the White House trying to ratchet up pressure on China ahead of the meeting. Trump warned Monday that he may go ahead with $267 billion in tariffs, which would be in addition to the ones his administration has placed on $250 billion worth of goods. Yesterday, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement that the U.S. would use “all available tools” to respond to China’s unfair policies on automobiles.
