Trump coy on China trade deal before meeting Xi

30 November 2018 10:28 am

File photo: U.S. President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping (Reuters)

 

WASHINGTON REUTERS Nov 29 - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was open to a trade deal with China but was not sure he wanted one, as he headed to Argentina for the G20 summit and a meeting with President Xi Jingping.   


 Trump and Xi were scheduled to meet on Saturday to discuss trade amid increasing tensions between the world’s top two economies.   


 Trump’s hardline trade adviser, Peter Navarro, will attend a meeting between Trump and Xi, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters.   
 Billions of dollars were coming into the United States, Trump said, because of the tariffs he has placed on Chinese imports.    However, U.S. companies and consumers are bearing part of the cost by paying higher prices for the goods.   


 “I really don’t know but I will tell you that I think China wants to make a deal. I’m open to making a deal. But frankly, I like the deal we have right now,” Trump said.