President Trump[1] reaffirmed Wednesday that he sees progress in trade negotiations with China[2] but again raised doubts about nailing down a final deal.
“Our Trade Deal with China[3] is moving along nicely, but in the end we will probably have to use a different structure in that this will be too hard to get done and to verify results after completion,” Mr. Trump[4]tweeted[5].
The mixed message followed his warning Tuesday that he wanted a trade deal that was good for the U.S. and China[6], but “it may not be possible.”
Mr. Trump[7] has made it a top priority to curb what he calls Beijing’s unfair trade practices and reduce America’s annual $375 billion trade deficit with China[8].
That effort has become entwined with another top priority of forcing the denuclearization of North Korea, which requires pressure from China[9], the North’s chief sponsor.
It puts Mr. Trump[10] in the difficult position of demanding concessions on trade from China[11] while asking Beijing for help on North Korea.
The Trump administration has been making incremental progress in getting China[12] to reduce its tariffs and barriers. The two sides last week agreed to a framework for a deal that, at least temporarily, got them to set back from the brink of a trade war.
Our Trade Deal with China[13] is moving along nicely, but in the end we will probably have to use a different structure in that this will be too hard to get done and to verify results after completion....