U.S. president blames his predecessors, not Beijing, for ‘unfair’ trade relationship
In Beijing on Thursday, Mr. Trump spoke in unusually conciliatory tones during joint appearances with Mr. Xi, hailing their “very good chemistry” while also expressing hope for forceful action from Beijing.
Mr. Trump blamed past U.S. administrations, rather than Beijing, for what he described as a “very one-sided and unfair” trade relationship, adding, “but we’ll make it fair and it’ll be tremendous to both of us.”
.. Mr. Trump did include tougher talk in his pledge to tackle imbalances: “We must immediately address the unfair trade practices that drive this deficit,” he said. “We really have to look at access, forced technology transfer and the theft of intellectual property, which just by and of itself is costing the United States and its government at least $300 billion a year.”
.. “I told President Trump that the Pacific Ocean is big enough for both China and the U.S.,” he said.
.. “It appears Trump opted to publicly play down U.S.-China differences, praise the Chinese people for what they have achieved, and give Xi Jinping face,” said Bonnie Glaser,
.. Beijing’s strategy appeared to be to flatter Mr. Trump into easing up on pressure over trade and North Korea and acknowledging China’s territorial interests and ambitions for a leading role on the world stage.
.. Mr. Trump had told the Chinese president: “You’re a strong man—you can, I’m sure, solve this for me.”
.. However, he acknowledged that on trade, “the things that have been achieved thus far are pretty small.”
.. Mr. Xi is expected to use his speech to the same forum to press the image of China as the new champion of global free trade, and to encourage other countries to participate in his Belt and Road plan for wide-ranging trade and transport links.