After accusing Beijing of refusing to engage on trade, the Trump administration’s top economic adviser made it clear on Tuesday that the US president would be meeting with his Chinese counterpart, despite any pessimism.
Donald Trump will meet “for a bit” with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Group of 20 summit in Buenos Aires next month, Larry Kudlow told reporters on the White House lawn, as quoted by CNBC.
“Our asks are on the table. I’d love to see them respond,” he added. “Thus far they haven’t.”
Kudlow made headlines several days ago when he told the Financial Times that Beijing had done “nothing” to defuse trade tensions, shying away from addressing a long list of demands that “basically hasn’t changed for five or six months.”
That characterization contradicts the account given by Cui Tiankai, China’s ambassador to the US, who told National Public Radio (NPR) early this month that the “US position keeps changing.”
Cui made the rounds on the US media circuit, also giving an interview with Fox News during which he said there was no clear negotiating point man in the White House.
Chinese negotiators “don’t know who is the final decision-maker. Of course, presumably, the president would take the final decision. But who is playing what role? Sometimes it could be very confusing,” Cui said.
The diplomat may be referring to the appearance last spring that US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was given authority to craft a deal that would see China buy more US energy and agriculture goods in exchange for a tariff truce.
Mnuchin was swiftly undercut by the president himself even after Trump gave the impression he was on board. The president went out of his way to pose for a photo op in the Oval Office with China’s chief representative in the trade talks, Vice-Premier Liu He.
Since then, Beijing has reportedly been reluctant to engage with Mnuchin, while US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has emerged as the more influential administration official on trade issues.
The G-20 meeting could give Xi Jinping an opportunity to present an offer with the confidence that any response will represent Trump’s actual views.
China is already winning the trade war but also the race to supplant the US. They will not be giving any concessions. IThey are already the biggedt economy, have an internal market of 1.4b, is the factory to over 6b people. Even if it lose a market of 400m, it will still have much scale. The US, on the other hand, will face increased input cost and with it a decline in competitiveness.
China is already winning the trade war but also the race to supplant the US. They will not be giving any concessions. IThey are already the biggedt economy, have an internal market of 1.4b, is the factory to over 6b people. Even if it lose a market of 400m, it will still have much scale. The US, on the other hand, will face increased input cost and with it a decline in competitiveness.
I hope they meet. Peace is better than war.
I hope they meet. Peace is better than war.
THIS MORONIC USA PRESIDENCY THINKS IT OWNS THE WORLD. CHINA HAS NECESSARY RESILIENCE TO WEAR AWAY THIS CHILDISH & CONFRONTATIONAL GAME OF MAD TRUMP.
THIS MORONIC USA PRESIDENCY THINKS IT OWNS THE WORLD. CHINA HAS NECESSARY RESILIENCE TO WEAR AWAY THIS CHILDISH & CONFRONTATIONAL GAME OF MAD TRUMP.
The trade war is now starting to impact US. Seek a rescue from China?
The trade war is now starting to impact US. Seek a rescue from China?
"demands that “basically hasn’t changed for five or six months.”"
And what are those demands EXACTLY? Anyone really know? Is it a framework for a two way deal or simply one sided demands?
"demands that “basically hasn’t changed for five or six months.”"
And what are those demands EXACTLY? Anyone really know? Is it a framework for a two way deal or simply one sided demands?
Banging on the door and making ridiculous demands that China givrs up its right to progress is childish behaviour and a non starter!.
Banging on the door and making ridiculous demands that China givrs up its right to progress is childish behaviour and a non starter!.