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US President Donald Trump said Thursday that US and Chinese negotiators were having "productive" trade talks and expected to meet in September despite US tariffs on Chinese imports valued at over $ 125 billion on September 1 came into force.
"The negotiations are not over in September, but I think it is more important that we talk on the phone and have very productive discussions," Trump told reporters in New Jersey.
He said US and Chinese officials had a "very good conversation" earlier this week, ahead of the government's proposed tariffs worth over 150 billion dollars, including toys, cell phones, laptops and tablet computers on the 15. December postponed.
Nevertheless, China vowed on Thursday to counter the recent US tariffs on Chinese commodities worth 300 billion US dollars, urging the US to meet them midway through a potential trade deal.
Trump said he did not think Beijing would pay US tariffs, and he believes that China wants to make a trade agreement.
“I think we are having very good talks with China. They really want to make a deal, "Trump told reporters. He said he planned to speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping soon, but did not say when.
"I think the longer it takes, the stronger we get," Trump said of the trade war. "I have a feeling it will be pretty short," he added.
The President of the People's Republic of China: Xi Jinping
The Chinese Ministry of Finance said in a statement that Washington's tariffs violated a consensus reached by Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a summit in Japan in June to resolve their disputes through negotiations.
In a separate statement, China's Foreign Minister Hua Chunying said: "We hope that the US will meet China halfway and implement the consensus of the two heads of state and government in Osaka."
China hopes to find mutually acceptable solutions through dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality and mutual respect.
Trump, who is seeking re-election in 2020 and made the economy and his tough stance on China an important part of his campaign for the White House 2016, said on Thursday that any agreement would have to meet US demands.
“China would honestly like to make a deal, and it has to be a deal on fair terms. To be honest, it has to be a deal on our terms. Otherwise what is the purpose? “Said Trump in an interview with New Hampshire radio station WGIR.
China will resolutely counteract any provocation until the end, the official People's Daily of the Communist Party wrote in a commentary on Friday.
“It looks like the US knows that at some point they will hit a wall in a dead end. But now they are slowing down their pace and delaying the hit, ”wrote the People's Daily.
"If you don't change direction, you will eventually hit a wall and break your head."
The trade situation between countries is still very complicated and is compounded by the ongoing unrest in Hong Kong. Trump linked the situation with a possible settlement on Wednesday, saying Xi must first solve the problems on his own territory in Hong Kong with the protesters.
On Thursday, he called on the Chinese president via Twitter to meet the demonstrators in person to "bring about a happy and enlightened end to the Hong Kong problem".
Trump and Xi had agreed in June to resume trading talks after negotiations stalled earlier this year. Earlier this month, however, the Trump administration announced that it would start trading on 1. Would levy tariffs on Chinese goods worth 300 billion dollars, which would cover all Chinese exports to the United States. He said the partial postponement of tariffs until the 15. December for about half of the list aims to protect retailers and consumers during the Christmas sales season.
The tariff has confused global markets and further unsettled investors as the trade dispute between the two largest economies in the world continues into the second year, with no foreseeable end.
Reporting by Beijing Monitoring Desk; additional coverage by Susan Heavey and Makini Brice in Washington and Ryan Woo in Beijing; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Cynthia Osterman & Shri Navaratnam, German adaptation by the Institute for Rare Earths and Metals, rights with Reuters
