Trump 'not interested' in reopening U.S.-China trade deal after report of Beijing discontent

[webfact]

Trump 'not interested' in reopening U.S.-China trade deal after report of Beijing discontent

By Andrea Shalal and Ryan Woo

 

U.S. President Donald Trump addresses a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak press briefing in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 11, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he opposed renegotiating the U.S.-China "Phase 1" trade deal after a Chinese state-run newspaper reported some government advisers in Beijing were urging fresh talks and possibly invalidating the agreement.

 

Trump, who himself has considered abandoning the pact signed in January, told a White House press briefing he wanted to see if Beijing lived up to the deal to massively increase purchases of U.S. goods.

 

"No, not at all. Not even a little bit," Trump said when asked if he would entertain the idea of reworking Phase 1. "I'm not interested. We signed a deal. I had heard that too, they'd like to reopen the trade talk, to make it a better deal for them."

 

The Global Times tabloid reported on Monday that unidentified advisers close to the talks have suggested that Chinese officials revive the possibility of invalidating the trade pact and negotiate a new one to tilt the scales more to the Chinese side.

 

The Global Times is published by the People's Daily, the official newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party. While not an official party mouthpiece, the Global Times' views are believed at times to reflect those of its leaders.

 

NEW SOYBEAN PURCHASES

Hours after the report was published, Chinese importers on Monday bought at least four cargoes, or about 240,000 tonnes, of U.S. soybeans on Monday for shipment beginning in July, and additional sales are possible, two traders familiar with the deals said on Monday.

 

The purchases were the latest in a recent string by China, which U.S. officials say has also begun implementing other parts of the trade deal regarding intellectual property protections.

 

The U.S. Trade Representative's office did not respond to repeated queries on the Global Times article.

 

Under the Phase 1 deal signed in January, Beijing pledged to buy at least $200 billion in additional U.S. goods and services over two years while Washington agreed to roll back tariffs in stages on Chinese goods.

 

Trump, who has blamed China's early handling of the new coronavirus outbreak in its central city of Wuhan for thousands of U.S. deaths and millions of job losses, said last week he was "very torn" about whether to end the Phase 1 trade deal. Those comments came just hours after top trade officials from both countries pledged to press ahead with implementing the agreement.

 

'TSUNAMI OF ANGER'

Rising U.S.-China tensions over the coronavirus outbreak have cast the trade deal and proposed talks on a Phase 2 deal into doubt.

 

The Trump administration asserted there was evidence the new coronavirus came from a Wuhan laboratory, an allegation that China has rejected. On Monday, a new source of tension opened up, with reports that the administration is planning to issue a warning that computer hackers tied to the Chinese government are attempting to steal information from U.S. researchers.

 

U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

 

The Global Times said malicious attacks by the United States have ignited a "tsunami of anger" among Chinese trade insiders after China made compromises in the Phase 1 pact.

 

"It's in fact in China's interests to terminate the current Phase 1 deal," a trade adviser to the Chinese government told the Global Times, citing the weakening U.S. economy and upcoming U.S. presidential elections. "The U.S. now cannot afford to restart the trade war with China if everything goes back to the starting point."

 

Clete Willems, a former White House trade adviser who took an active role in the U.S.-China negotiations, said China had followed through on the majority of the structural provisions in the Phase 1 deal, including new rules to protect intellectual property.

 

"I don't think we're at the point where we should give up on the deal. It has yielded positive results thus far," said Willems, who is now with the Akin Gump law firm in Washington.

 

(Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom, writing by David Lawder, Editing by William Maclean and Richard Chang)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-12

 

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[Relocated]

Might as well, pressure them to withdraw from Tibet and Uyghur and let N Korea unite with the south. 

[Mama Noodle]

2 minutes ago, stevenl said:

That's what happens when you start a war you can not win. When you're vulnerable you get kicked in the balls.

Guess since theres nothing that can be done about it, might as well lick Chinas communist bunghole and ask them nicely to stop being nefarious turds? 

 

I mean are you guys so myopic and disturbed that you celebrate and cheerlead things like this? It just boggles the mind. 

[stevenl]

5 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

I've got news for you, every US president in history tries his best to look good in election years. It's one of the big problems in US politics. Too much time and money is spent on elections and presidents put far too much effort into being popular rather than getting the tough, unpopular jobs done. With all the campaigning in midterm and full term, there's hardly any time of any year free from campaigning. 

<snip>

Agree with this part.

[Mama Noodle]

4 minutes ago, Tug said:

I don’t think they (unleashed)the virus that is a straight up act of war the virus originated in China just as the 1918 pandemic started in the American Midwest

 

The origin of the Spanish flu is contested, and very likely started in China. 

 

6 minutes ago, Tug said:

cost a lot of farmers their homes and farms and consumers are going to be paying lots more for trumps tarreffs what infuriates me is people implying another country committed an act of war on us that’s untrue and dangerous we all should be cooperating responding to this crisis 

 

You want cooperation yet China has been the least cooperative and least transparent throughout this whole ordeal. 

[mfd101]

Yawn. All just part of the normal diplomatic negotiating process. Keeping the opposition on its toes.

 

I expect that the current 'pact' will continue to be mostly implemented, to the more or less secret surprise & satisfaction of both parties. Which won't stop them from jockeying for position as they approach Round 2 ...

 

People need to look through what their heroes SAY and check carefully what they DO.

[stevenl]

2 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Yawn. All just part of the normal diplomatic negotiating process. Keeping the opposition on its toes.

 

I expect that the current 'pact' will continue to be mostly implemented, to the more or less secret surprise & satisfaction of both parties. Which won't stop them from jockeying for position as they approach Round 2 ...

 

People need to look through what their heroes SAY and check carefully what they DO.

True, and with the process in China far less visible than in the US China has the upper hand there.

[harada]

The old kick a man when he's down as with the recent threat of consumer boycotts threatened against Australia by the Chinese a couple of weeks ago can backfire, I for one will leave anything marked made in China or "packed in " which usually means that it's trans shipped from China on the shelves, and if a few hundred million others do the same they may have a change of attitude.

[Mama Noodle]

1 minute ago, harada said:

The old kick a man when he's down as with the recent threat of consumer boycotts threatened against Australia by the Chinese a couple of weeks ago can backfire, I for one will leave anything marked made in China or "packed in " which usually means that it's trans shipped from China on the shelves, and if a few hundred million others do the same they may have a change of attitude.

 

China is doing everything it can to maintain their foothold using threats and propaganda at will. 

 

And spineless partisans will support it, even threats on their own economy and national security are ok as long as they can get swipes in. 

[Logosone]

I don't dislike Trump as such but his ultra-nationalist US-or-death policies are a danger for the world economy. Again the Forex markets take a nose-dive because everyone expects yet more economic warfare between the two elephants.

 

If Trump were to go it would be excellent for global market stability, but I fear he will destroy Biden in the upcoming election.

[Thailand]

"NEW SOYBEAN PURCHASES

Hours after the report was published, Chinese importers on Monday bought at least four cargoes, or about 240,000 tonnes, of U.S. soybeans on Monday for shipment beginning in July, and additional sales are possible, two traders familiar with the deals said on Monday.

 

The purchases were the latest in a recent string by China, which U.S. officials say has also begun implementing other parts of the trade deal regarding intellectual property protections."

 

Does not look like backing out to me.More to the point, is Trump upholding his part of the deal?

[stevenl]

3 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

China is doing everything it can to maintain their foothold using threats and propaganda at will. 

<snip>

Agree, so is the US. Difference is China is on the up, US in decline.

[RobFord]

14 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Agree, so is the US. Difference is China is on the up, US in decline.

Agreed. Not only is China’s population 3 - 4 times greater than the US but it’s GDP will be 3 - 4 times greater in under 40 years. Most of use won’t see this ( thankfully ) but Mama Noodle will, he’s an angry young man. Enjoy. 
 

Not necessarily a bad thing under Trump. 

[stevenl]

29 minutes ago, Logosone said:

I don't dislike Trump as such but his ultra-nationalist US-or-death policies are a danger for the world economy. Again the Forex markets take a nose-dive because everyone expects yet more economic warfare between the two elephants.

 

If Trump were to go it would be excellent for global market stability, but I fear he will destroy Biden in the upcoming election.

I'm afraid I have to agree. Still hoping for 2 possible options though, one a different dem. candidate, 2 a change within the rep party, but especially the latter hope is much more wishful thinking than realistic.

[SimpleMan555]

1 hour ago, Tug said:

 1918 pandemic started in the American Midwest as far as trump spinning about looking for a scapegoat is going to cost a lot of farmers their homes and farms and consumers are going to be paying lots more for trumps tarreffs what infuriates me is people implying another country committed an act of war on us that’s untrue and dangerous we all should be cooperating responding to this crisis 

1. Though the US Midwest was the center of a major outbreak, many in the scientific community believe the virus originated in China and was transported to North America via Chinese Labors that immigrated to Canada. 

2. The China-US trade agreement was made prior to the pandemic outbreak in the US. Though it will not be easy to wean ourselves from cheap, and often inferior or dangerous Chinese products, and will result in the loss of some exports to China it is a necessary in rebuilding the China centric global supply chain. 

The dangerous trade imbalance between China and its global trade partners will only be to their benefit and we all must play a part in helping to restore a more equitable global supply chain. As I come from a family & community of ranchers and farmers, this is problem I understand and agree it cannot continue...

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/1/140123-spanish-flu-1918-china-origins-pandemic-science-health/

[CaptRon2]

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

Strange conclusions, as usual you're not reading what was written but what you think of others.

Your post is somewhat hypocritical, accusing someone of not reading what was written about when only days ago you were exposed as doing the exact same thing, I suspect you remember arguing The NY Times was a credible reference, when in fact the reference was an opinion piece from the Chattanooga Free Press.

Do you actually have evidence that Mama Noodle did not read what was written or are you just making false statements again? 

Do you think its ok for you to criticize someone for something you have been exposed as doing (with evidence) even thought you have not provided  any supporting facts other than a difference of opinion?

Why post if you can not be truthful?

[Mama Noodle]

32 minutes ago, RobFord said:

Agreed. Not only is China’s population 3 - 4 times greater than the US but it’s GDP will be 3 - 4 times greater in under 40 years. Most of use won’t see this ( thankfully ) but Mama Noodle will, he’s an angry young man. Enjoy. 

 

So you are happy you won't have to deal with it, yet equally happy that I have to deal with it? 

 

The mind boggles. It was your generation that sucked up to China and allowed then to operate nefariously and without accountability and now every American industry, every Patent, every bit of intellectual property is open to being stolen, exploited, faked, diluted, and ruined because of these turds. 

 

Of course im angry about it. People defend and support china who's whole economy is built on theft, secrecy, threats, and expansion. 

 

And its not just the USA. Its every country.

[stevenl]

5 minutes ago, CaptRon2 said:

Your post is somewhat hypocritical, accusing someone of not reading what was written about when only days ago you were exposed as doing the exact same thing, I suspect you remember arguing The NY Times was a credible reference, when in fact the reference was an opinion piece from the Chattanooga Free Press.

Do you actually have evidence that Mama Noodle did not read what was written or are you just making false statements again? 

Do you think its ok for you to criticize someone for something you have been exposed as doing (with evidence) even thought you have not provided  any supporting facts other than a difference of opinion?

Why post if you can not be truthful?

Show me the posts please.

[Chomper Higgot]

“Leverage: don’t make deals without it. Enhance”

 

Donald Trump, ‘The Art of the Deal’.

[Logosone]

41 minutes ago, stevenl said:

I'm afraid I have to agree. Still hoping for 2 possible options though, one a different dem. candidate, 2 a change within the rep party, but especially the latter hope is much more wishful thinking than realistic.

Even if the Dems put up a new candidate, a stance like Trump's leaves marks. That new candidate could not be seen as soft on China, as that is something Trump has now made an issue.

 

However, the biggest chance of Trump being voted out is that his handling of the pandemic becomes his swan song. The injecting disinfectant bit may endear him to some or disqualify him to others, but if the pandemic becomes a failure he will suffer. Witness BoJo in the in the UK.

 

Happened even to Churchill. If the electorate things you're wrong you're out.

 

 

 

[SimpleMan555]

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

That's what happens when you start a war you can not win. When you're vulnerable you get kicked in the balls.

 

To me, this type of attitude is straight from the mouth of Neville Chamberlain and his policy of appeasement with Germany at the start of WWII. 

You are free to give up and kneel before your new Chinese Overlords, while repeating the mantra "We can never win".

Personally, and as a free man. I would rather take a swift kick in the balls, pick myself up and continue to fight...  

 

History has shown us the Chinese communist government is prepared to play the long game to control the global economy (Belt and Road program, China 1000 Talents program, the Orwellian Citizen Social Credit program and more).

While the US is not a perfect form a government and there is much to improve on, I feel it is a much better option to what the Chinese offer. If the people of all free nations can learn to work together, I hope we can achieve a better world without requiring us to accept a New World Order and its requisite Authoritarian Central Government.

Cheers!

[stevenl]

22 minutes ago, SimpleMan555 said:

 

To me, this type of attitude is straight from the mouth of Neville Chamberlain and his policy of appeasement with Germany at the start of WWII. 

You are free to give up and kneel before your new Chinese Overlords, while repeating the mantra "We can never win".

Personally, and as a free man. I would rather take a swift kick in the balls, pick myself up and continue to fight...  

 

History has shown us the Chinese communist government is prepared to play the long game to control the global economy (Belt and Road program, China 1000 Talents program, the Orwellian Citizen Social Credit program and more).

While the US is not a perfect form a government and there is much to improve on, I feel it is a much better option to what the Chinese offer. If the people of all free nations can learn to work together, I hope we can achieve a better world without requiring us to accept a New World Order and its requisite Authoritarian Central Government.

Cheers!

Yes, would also prefer the west over China. However for the moment that is out with Trump starting a war on China, and in stead of doing it together with his allies he alienated them by putting tariffs in place on them at the same time and with other, more political decisions.

 

He underestimated China, overestimated the US and his USA first policy has resulted in USA alone.

Edited May 12, 2020 by stevenl

[owl sees all]

The last days of an imperialist regime. The money people know that the petro-dollar (PD) is on its knees.

 

Watch gold go to 10k per ounce before the PD collapses and takes the US dollar with it. Then have to get gold using bitcoin; or maybe Ycoin (Yuan coin) backed by gold. US dollars will be worthless.

 

The US's view of how the world should run is swiftly coming to an end. C-19 is just speeding things up.

Edited May 12, 2020 by owl sees all

[Eric Loh]

2 hours ago, stevenl said:

That's what happens when you start a war you can not win. When you're vulnerable you get kicked in the balls.

The China trade data in April is evident that China is pushing on without USA. Their export rose an unexpected 3.5% when economist from Reuters and Bloomberg expected a export decline of 15%. China is replacing exports that are effected by the trade tariffs to countries in Latin America, South Africa and SEA. Meanwhile USA export in Feb plunged to a record 9.6%. Trump is fighting the trade war with his impulsive instinct and goaded by his toadies. He is non strategic in his approach and that is not a recipe for success.    

[H1w4yR1da]

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

So please share your latest conspiracy theory.

Its not a conspiracy theory. Its happening.

[Mama Noodle]

4 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Their export rose an unexpected 3.5% when economist from Reuters and Bloomberg expected a export decline of 15%.

 

Of course we should take Chinas word on such, being global fraudsters and known currency manipulators. 

[Mama Noodle]

17 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Yes, would also prefer the west over China. However for the moment that is out with Trump starting a war on China

 

Translation:

 

I too would prefer the west over China. However for the moment that is out because Trump is in the white house and Republicans are super baddies. 

[stevenl]

Just now, Mama Noodle said:

 

Translation:

 

I too would prefer the west over China. However for the moment that is out because Trump is in the white house and Republicans are super baddies. 

Glad you added 'translation', next time use a better program please.

[Mama Noodle]

4 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Glad you added 'translation', next time use a better program please.

 

You hate to see it, but everyone knows it's true. Y'all just don't have the testicular fortitude to be up front with it. 

 

 

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, Tug said:

I don’t think they (unleashed)the virus that is a straight up act of war the virus originated in China just as the 1918 pandemic started in the American Midwest as far as trump spinning about looking for a scapegoat is going to cost a lot of farmers their homes and farms and consumers are going to be paying lots more for trumps tarreffs what infuriates me is people implying another country committed an act of war on us that’s untrue and dangerous we all should be cooperating responding to this crisis 

And meantime the clown thinks he looks like the tough guy who is saving America and MAGA!