Former U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced growing frustration over stalled trade negotiations with China, saying it is becoming “extremely hard” to strike a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping a remark that underscores renewed tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
Speaking at a campaign event in Michigan on Tuesday, Trump criticized what he called China’s “manipulative tactics” and blamed the breakdown in talks on Beijing’s reluctance to make meaningful concessions on issues such as intellectual property, state subsidies, and forced technology transfers.
“It’s getting extremely hard to make any kind of deal with President Xi,” Trump told supporters. “He’s not coming to the table the way he used to. We had something great going, and then they backed off.”
The comments come as the latest round of trade discussions between Washington and Beijing appear to have reached an impasse, with both sides accusing the other of reneging on previous commitments. U.S. officials have reportedly grown frustrated with China’s slow pace of reform and its renewed push for state-led economic strategies.
While Trump is not currently in office, his influence on the Republican Party and on future U.S. policy toward China remains significant. His remarks could signal a hardening stance within his camp, particularly as China becomes an increasingly central issue in the 2024 presidential race.
During his presidency, Trump imposed hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs on Chinese goods, launching a trade war aimed at curbing what he described as China’s “unfair economic practices.” A limited “Phase One” deal was signed in January 2020, but many core issues were left unresolved.
Relations between the two countries have since remained tense, with disagreements extending beyond trade to encompass technology restrictions, Taiwan, and human rights.
In response to Trump’s latest comments, Chinese officials have remained publicly muted, but state-run media outlets have reiterated China’s position that mutual respect and equality must underpin any future agreement.
Analysts suggest the rhetoric from Trump could further complicate any potential re-engagement between the two powers. “Even though Trump is not in office, Beijing listens carefully to these statements,” said Mei Lin, a senior fellow at the Asia Policy Institute. “They know it could preview what U.S. policy might look like again in 2025.”
As both countries grapple with economic headwinds and rising geopolitical friction, any path back to the negotiating table remains uncertain.
source: nbcsandiego.com