WASHINGTON, Oct 13 – President Donald Trump said Sunday that he thinks the U.S. relationship with China will be “fine” despite renewed trade tensions following his threat to impose an additional 100 percent tariff on Chinese imports beginning next month.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he has “a great relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The U.S. leader’s statement came after he made the fresh tariff threat on Friday in response to China’s new export controls on rare earth minerals.
“He’s a very tough man. He’s a very smart man. He’s a great leader for their country,” Trump said shortly after he departed on the plane for a whirlwind visit to Israel and Egypt.
Beijing issued a formal response on Sunday to his tariff threat, saying it stands ready to resolutely take corresponding measures “to protect its legitimate rights and interests.”
Asked whether imposing the extra tariff is still the plan, Trump said it is “now,” but “let’s see what happens.”
He said that for many, the potential starting date of the tariff may sound “right around the corner,” but “for me, when I hear November 1st, it’s an eternity,” signaling that there is room for the two countries to back down.
The latest escalation in bilateral tensions came after China announced on Thursday additional curbs on exports of rare earths and related technologies critical to the manufacturing of high-tech products.
On Friday, Trump accused China of becoming “very hostile” and holding not just the United States but the entire world “captive” with its sudden tightening of export controls.
At the time, Trump said the United States will implement the tariff starting Nov. 1 or sooner, depending on any further actions taken by China, and that he could cancel a planned meeting with Xi later this month in South Korea.
Trump said the United States also plans to impose export controls on all critical software products, starting on the same date.
His seeming shift to a less confrontational approach to China began after major U.S. stock indexes closed sharply lower Friday on rekindled trade war fears.
Earlier Sunday, Trump also wrote on social media not to worry about China, noting that the Chinese leader “just had a bad moment. He doesn’t want Depression for his country, and neither do I. The U.S.A. wants to help China, not hurt it.”
