WASHINGTON, Nov 19 (KUNA) -- US President Donald Trump threatened that his administration could raise the tariffs on Chinese products in case there is no mutually acceptable trade deal with Beijing.
Speaking to reporters during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, he said, "China is going to have to make a deal that I like. If they don't, that's it.
"If we don't make a deal with China, I'll just raise the tariffs even higher," Trump said, noting that he has a good relationship with China.
He reiterated the statement he made a fortnight ago that his administration did not agree to Chinese demands to cancel the customs tariffs on Chinese products in the recent trade talks.
"China would like to get somewhat of a rollback, not a complete rollback, because they know I won't do it," he told reporters at the White House on Friday, November 8, affirming, "I haven't agreed to anything.
President Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping were scheduled to sign a long-awaited interim trade on the sidelines of a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders in Chile in mid-November.
The date has reportedly been put off until December and the new venue could be the US state of Iowa. (end) asj.gb