President Trump says he will engage in direct talks with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He at the White House as he seeks a pact to end an escalating trade war.
Trump, pushing for a comprehensive trade deal, tweeted Thursday, “Big day of negotiations with China. They want to make a deal, but do I? I meet with the Vice Premier tomorrow at The White House.”
The meeting was not on Trump’s weekly schedule shared with journalists, though it was known the vice premier would be in Washington.
Big day of negotiations with China. They want to make a deal, but do I? I meet with the Vice Premier tomorrow at The White House.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2019
Last month, Trump delayed an increase in tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods from Oct. 1 to Oct. 15 “in honor of President Xi” and “because they’re having their 70th anniversary” of communist control.
Trump, a businessman who often boasts of his negotiating prowess, has struggled to win a trade deal with China amid fears that tariffs will ultimately harm American consumers. China has balked at intellectual property protections that would bar state-controlled companies from copying the technology of U.S. firms.
Liu previously visited the White House in April. During on-camera remarks, Trump veered off-script and asked Liu to endorse a theoretical nuclear arms control pact between the United States, China, and Russia to limit “ridiculous” military spending.
“I think it is a very good idea,” Liu said.
