Trump sparks confusion before doubling down on China tariffs
But the positives were overshadowed by a mix-up over his apparent expression of regret for the latest escalation in the US-China dispute.
"I have second thoughts about everything," he conceded to reporters when asked if he regretted his decision on Friday to ramp up tariffs on all Chinese imports, worth some $550 billion, in retaliation for Beijing's earlier hike of levies on US goods.
Just hours later, top White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham issued a statement insisting that Trump meant completely the opposite. "The president was asked if he had 'any second thought on escalating the trade war with China'. His answer has been greatly misinterpreted," she said. "President Trump responded in the affirmative - because he regrets not raising the tariffs higher."
Others attending the G7 summit of wealthy allies certainly wished for detente between Beijing and Washington.
European leaders pressured Trump to back off what he describes as a historic, all-or-nothing struggle to shift China from decades of rampant intellectual property theft and other unfair trade practices. Trump is also embroiled in threats of a trade war with France and the EU.
The latest to voice concern was British PM Boris Johnson, who told Trump on Sunday that "we don't like tariffs on the whole". "We are in favour of trade peace," he said. Trump and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe announced an agreement in principle on what Trump said was "billions and billions of dollars" of trade. They hope to sign the deal, covering industry, digital and agricultural sectors, in September. Trump also dangled the prospect of deal that was "bigger than we've ever had" with Britain.
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References
- ^ BIARRITZ (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- ^ Donald Trump (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- ^ White House (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- ^ Boris Johnson (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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