Former President Donald Trump has recently boasted of striking hundreds of new or renegotiated trade deals with countries from India to China. In a statement made during an interview with Time magazine, he referred to ongoing negotiations only at that moment between the U.S. and China concerning constant tariffs. This other, unsourced, claim surfaced when Trump sold it to reporters. He issued the comment as he departed the White House to attend Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome. Now experts are pushing back hard on Trump’s discredited assertions. In particular, they would like to know more about any direct contact he has made with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Former President Trump’s administration imposed rounds of tariffs on many countries. Consequently, those countries are now trying to negotiate deals with the U.S. Trump knocked down an ant pile by sticking a 145 percent import tax on certain goods. In turn, China stood up to this threat by imposing a 125 percent tariff on American goods. This reciprocation has further escalated the trade war between the two global superpowers.
Lack of Confirmation from China
Though Trump has claimed that negotiations are still happening, the Chinese government has been just as quick to refute any claims about negotiation on tariffs. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that Beijing stands firm on international trade rules and opposes any form of protectionism. An official statement from the Chinese Embassy in Washington emphasized that “China and the US are NOT having any consultation or negotiation on tariffs,” urging the U.S. to “stop creating confusion.”
This absence of confirmation gives the lie to Trump’s assertions. Dr. Scott Kennedy is an expert on U.S.-China relations. He thinks this would only compound the effectively zero degree bilateral relation Trump and Xi have maintained since January 17th. He remarked, “There may be low-level communications, but very unlikely to be ongoing negotiations.” The absence of acknowledgment from any major trading partner further complicates Trump’s narrative that numerous trade deals are in place.
Expert Opinions on Trade Claims
Analysts say they are skeptical about Trump’s claims that the U.S. has made progress on trade. Dr. Sun, a scholar on international trade, pointed out that “not a single major trading partner had confirmed that deals had been signed.” He suggested that there may be a political motive behind Trump’s comments, stating, “Given those unsubstantiated claims Trump and his administration has made over the past few weeks, I think there is a strong political incentive for the Trump administration to make the claim that China is in negotiation with the U.S.”
As Dr. Sun noted, such claims would be a shrewd tactic for Trump. This is the case even more so if he will have to make compromises on tariffs with China eventually. He added, “For any political leader in China, this would have very serious consequences for their own political stability.”
Historical Context and Communication Patterns
As we know, Trump is no stranger to throwing out half-cocked musings that wonks like to refer to as “perhaps not entirely accurate.” Bethany Allen commented on Trump’s track record when she stated, “Trump is known for off-handed comments that may be somewhat less than precise.” For one thing, she said, Trump could be referring to some type of direct communication between U.S. and Chinese officials. This might mean substantive engagement or just conversation.
Dr. Kennedy shared the importance of the context around Trump’s new comments. “The U.S. president recently has made several comments implying momentum in talks with China and others in order to reassure markets,” he explained. This strategy seems to be solely focused on assuaging investor concerns at a time of high and rising uncertainties associated with global trade.
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