Trump Says China's Not Ready to Make a Trade Deal
The U.S. will not meet with China to talk about trade until he's convinced they're ready to make a deal, President Donald Trump said, speaking with reporters after U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley announced her resignation on Oct. 9 at the White House. Trump said the U.S. rebuilt China by purchasing so many Chinese goods, and that he wants to put an end to the unbalanced trading relationship. "China wants to make a deal. And I say they’re not ready yet. I just say they’re not ready yet. And we’ve canceled a couple of meetings because I just say they’re not ready to make a deal," he said. "It’s been a one-way street for 25 years. We’ve got to make it a two-way street. We’ve got to benefit also, OK?"
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Trump was asked if he would increase tariffs on the Chinese imports that haven't yet been targeted, and he didn't give a clear answer.
Trump also suggested that the new NAFTA would motivate voters to support Republicans in the midterm elections. "I’m going to Iowa tonight. We have a big, big crowd," he said. "I have to say, the farmers are so thrilled with the USMCA -- the new agreement. I don’t use the word 'NAFTA' because NAFTA was a disaster for our country. NAFTA -- we lost millions and millions of jobs; thousands and thousands of factories and plants; and bad for farmers." He said Canada and Mexico will now be open to agricultural exports from the U.S. Retaliatory tariffs from Mexico and Canada remain on U.S. agricultural products because the Trump administration did not lift its Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs on the NAFTA countries.