Trump trade tweet sets tone for tense first meeting with China leader

[webfact]

Trump trade tweet sets tone for tense first meeting with China leader

By David Brunnstrom and Christian Shepherd

REUTERS

 

FILE PHOTO: A combination of file photos showing Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) at London's Heathrow Airport, October 19, 2015 and U.S. President Donald Trump posing for a photo in New York City, U.S., May 17, 2016. REUTERS/Toby Melville/Lucas Jackson/File Photos

 

WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump set the tone for a tense first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week by tweeting on Thursday that the United States could no longer tolerate massive trade deficits and job losses.

 

The White House said Trump would host Xi next Thursday and Friday at his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida. It said Trump and his wife, Melania, would host Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at a dinner next Thursday.

 

In a tweet on Thursday evening, Trump said the highly anticipated meeting between the leaders of the world's two largest economies, which is also expected to cover differences over North Korea and China's strategic ambitions in the South China Sea, "will be a very difficult one."

 

"We can no longer have massive trade deficits and job losses," he wrote, adding in apparent reference to U.S. firms manufacturing in China: "American companies must be prepared to look at other alternatives."

 

Despite a string of U.S.-China meetings and conversations that have appeared aimed at mending ties after strong criticism of China by Trump during his election campaign, U.S. officials have said the Republican president will not pull his punches in the meeting.

 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang gave no details of the agenda, but spoke of the need to see the big picture while fostering mutual interests in trade relations.

 

"The market dictates that interests between our two countries are structured so that you will always have me and I will always have you," he told a regular briefing.

 

"Both sides should work together to make the cake of mutual interest bigger and not simply seek fairer distribution," he said.

 

'BIG ISSUES'

 

Trump administration officials say the need for China to do more to rein in the nuclear and missile programs of its neighbor and ally North Korea will top the agenda, along with trade. The U.S. side is also expected to criticize Beijing for its pursuit of expansive claims in the South China Sea.

 

White House spokesman Sean Spicer told a news briefing the meeting would be an opportunity for Trump "to develop a relationship in person with President Xi."

 

"He's spoken to him on the phone a few times, but we have big problems ... everything from the South China Sea, to trade, to North Korea. There are big issues of national and economic security that need to get addressed."

 

Asked if the administration had a vision, or a description for its China policy like the "pivot" or "rebalance" to Asia touted by former President Barack Obama, Spicer said: "Right now we're not worried so much about slogans as much as progress.

 

"There's a lot of big things that we need to accomplish with China, and I think that we will - we will work on them."

 

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson agreed in Beijing this month to work with China on North Korea and stressed Trump's desire to enhance understanding.

 

China has been irritated at being told repeatedly by Washington to rein in North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, or face U.S. sanctions on Chinese businesses trading with North Korea, and by the U.S. decision to base an advanced missile defense system in South Korea.

 

Beijing is also deeply suspicious of U.S. intentions toward self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as its own, after Trump, as president-elect, broke with decades of U.S. policy by taking a phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and saying Washington did not have to stick to a "one China" policy.

 

Trump later agreed in a phone call with Xi to honor the long-standing policy and has also written to him since seeking "constructive ties."

 

(Reporting by Christian Shepherd in Beijing and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Writing by Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-03-31

[craigt3365]

32 minutes ago, webfact said:

Trump administration officials say the need for China to do more to rein in the nuclear and missile programs of its neighbor and ally North Korea will top the agenda, along with trade. The U.S. side is also expected to criticize Beijing for its pursuit of expansive claims in the South China Sea.

Good topics.  Best of luck.

[cornishcarlos]

I know Trump thinks he's a modern kinda guy but stop all this tweeting, you're the President of America for %4k@ sake...

[fruitman]

1 hour ago, cornishcarlos said:

I know Trump thinks he's a modern kinda guy but stop all this tweeting, you're the President of America for %4k@ sake...

 

[deepinlaos]

too many us bases in asia is the problem

[fvw53]

The meeting will be at Trump's Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida :  why not hire some strippers to relax the atmosphere....this has been done to comfort mourners during funerals in China

[elgordo38]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang gave no details of the agenda, but spoke of the need to see the big picture while fostering mutual interests in trade relations.

Yeah right see the big picture. Play ball or we dump your treasuries?? China is to used to talking down to countries. Taking an uphill course is beyond their comprehension. They keep breaking deals like keeping Hong Kong on the two country system integration is their only understanding. They took Tibet at the end of a rifle barrel so what makes them more civilized now? They are  now in anticipation of a war with the US deploying the Assassins Mace on the coast of China. 

Edited March 31, 2017 by elgordo38

[elgordo38]

5 hours ago, cornishcarlos said:

I know Trump thinks he's a modern kinda guy but stop all this tweeting, you're the President of America for %4k@ sake...

Tweet him and tell him and tell us his answer 

[elgordo38]

My crystal ball says this. At the end of their meeting there will be a shake hands(cue to the Donald extend your hand) smiles photo-op. They will mutually say that much ground was covered and mutual understanding was achieved. Mr. Li will extend an invitation to the Donald to visit China in hmm lets say September. Mr. Li will also suggest that the US negotiate with North Korea (they have been for decades now) and that violence is not the answer. Mr. Li will later make a private statement saying the US now understands the sovereignty issue over the South China Sea and its need to deal harshly with Hong Kong LAW breakers. 

[dunroaming]

Some years ago I had a conversation with a client of mine who was overseeing and hosting a Chinese Government delegation on behalf of the UK government.  He concluded that the delegation (all men) had five priorities.  Food, sex, power, drink and more sex!  Maybe Mrs Trump still has some contacts in the escort business?  Might come in handy.

[Grubster]

4 hours ago, elgordo38 said:

My crystal ball says this. At the end of their meeting there will be a shake hands(cue to the Donald extend your hand) smiles photo-op. They will mutually say that much ground was covered and mutual understanding was achieved. Mr. Li will extend an invitation to the Donald to visit China in hmm lets say September. Mr. Li will also suggest that the US negotiate with North Korea (they have been for decades now) and that violence is not the answer. Mr. Li will later make a private statement saying the US now understands the sovereignty issue over the South China Sea and its need to deal harshly with Hong Kong LAW breakers. 

That would just be the same as the last five presidents, I doubt Trump follows suit but well see.

[mrwebb8825]

1 of these days people will start getting the fact that Trump isn't a politician and doesn't kiss butt. The Chinese are in for a rude awakening and will either covertly push the little fat man to stupidly launch a missile at a real target so they don't take the brunt of the repercussions or realize that they aren't yet in line to be the new world power.

 

I'm also curious why nobody is looking into the fact that it may very well be the Chinese doing all the hacking to keep the Russia vs America pot stirred and attention diverted away from their real motives. After all, the Chinese are years ahead of Russia in the tech field.

[ilostmypassword]

11 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

1 of these days people will start getting the fact that Trump isn't a politician and doesn't kiss butt. The Chinese are in for a rude awakening and will either covertly push the little fat man to stupidly launch a missile at a real target so they don't take the brunt of the repercussions or realize that they aren't yet in line to be the new world power.

 

I'm also curious why nobody is looking into the fact that it may very well be the Chinese doing all the hacking to keep the Russia vs America pot stirred and attention diverted away from their real motives. After all, the Chinese are years ahead of Russia in the tech field.

Yes the Trump school of investigation. Absence of evidence is evidence.

[Scott]

I suggest members post about the topic and stop with the inflammatory remarks aimed at other members.  

 

One post removed.   Continue and face a suspension.