President Trump offered contradictory assessments of Sino-US trade talks on Tuesday, but both suggested a lengthy trade war. China hinted that strong-arm U.S. tactics would not work.
Senior Chinese and U.S. officials met in Shanghai on Tuesday for their first face-to-face negotiations in more than two months. Trump told reporters at the White House that “the talks are moving very well, but they were often with China.”
Early in the day, Trump said on social media that China should not hope to out-last him. “The problem with them waiting, however, is that if & when I win, the deal that they get will be much tougher than what we are negotiating now…or no deal at all.”
Later in the morning, Trump said China’s economy was ailing in comparison to the United States. “And I will tell you this: China is dying to make a trade deal with me. But whether or not I’ll do it—it’s up to me; it’s not up to them.”
The editor in chief of Global Times, published under the aegis of China’s People’s Daily, said the United States mistakenly resorted to pressure tactics in negotiations. “Really not a good habit. Americans need to change their negotiating style, show more sincerity, not just wield stick,” tweeted Hu Xijin. “The past one and half years have proved bit stick is useless to China.” The Global Times is believed to portray the views if not the official position of the Chinese government.
Trump said U.S. farmers were grateful for trade-war payments provided by the administration. Up to $7.25 billion will be paid in cash to farmers and ranchers in mid-to-late August, according to USDA. Up to $16 billion is available. “We’re giving some money to our farmers who have been really targeted by China to do a number on them…The farmers like me and I love the farmers.”