Synopsis
In a recent address at the World Economic Forum, US President Donald Trump highlighted the importance of establishing a 'level playing field' in trade with China. He criticized the current trade relationship as unfair and expressed hope for improved relations under his administration.Key Takeaways
- Trump emphasizes need for fairness in US-China trade.
- Critique of Biden's handling of trade deficits.
- Desire for a balanced trade relationship.
- Trump maintains a positive view of President Xi.
- WEF serves as a platform for global economic discussions.
Washington, Jan 24 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about fostering a strong relationship with China during his administration, while emphasizing the necessity for a level playing field in trade.
Speaking virtually at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Trump remarked, "He (Xi Jinping) called me. But I see it very good. I think that we are going to have a very good relationship," highlighting the significant trade deficits the US has been experiencing with China, which he attributed to the policies of former President Biden.
Describing the current relationship as unfair, Trump stated that the US seeks fairness rather than advantage. He criticized the Biden administration for permitting the trade deficit to spiral out of control.
"It is just an unfair relationship. We have to make it just fair...All we want is fairness. We just want a level playing field. We don't want to take advantage. We have been having massive deficits with China. Biden allowed it to get out of hand...It is just an unfair relationship. We have to make it just fair. We don't have to make it phenomenal, we have to make it a fair relationship. Right now, it's not a fair relationship," he articulated.
Trump noted that the US has been grappling with substantial deficits with various nations, especially in Asia, and underscored the importance of rectifying these discrepancies.
"The deficit is massive as it is with other countries, a lot of Asian countries. But we have deficits that are very big and we can't keep doing that. So, we are not going to keep doing that," he added.
Despite these challenges, Trump conveyed his personal respect for President Xi, characterizing their relationship as generally positive, even amidst tensions like the emergence of Covid-19 in Wuhan.
"I like President Xi very much, I have always liked him. We always had a very good relationship," Trump stated.
"It was very strained with Covid coming out of Wuhan...But we always had a great relationship, we look forward to doing very well with China and getting along with China. Hopefully, China can help us stop the war with, in particular, Russia-Ukraine. They have a great deal of power over that situation," he mentioned.
Importantly, the WEF summit, taking place in Davos, Switzerland, from January 20 to 24, serves as a venue to discuss urgent global issues, economic transitions, and sustainability objectives.
Just days prior to his inauguration, Trump had a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, addressing various topics including trade, fentanyl, and TikTok.
Emphasizing the expectation that both leaders will "solve many problems together," the then President-elect asserted that they would do "everything possible" to ensure a more peaceful and safe world.
