Speaking at Air Force One to reports during travels from New Mexico Trump claimed that China expects him to re-win the election easily stating:
They think I’m going to win. China thinks I’m going to win so easily, and they’re concerned because I told them: ‘If it’s after the election, it’s going to be far worse than what it is right now.’ I told them that. Would they like to see somebody else win? Absolutely,
He also commented “I think there’ll be a deal maybe soon, maybe before the election, or one day after the election. And if it’s after the election, it’ll be a deal like you’ve never seen, it’ll be the greatest deal ever and China knows that,”
These statements have been made just two days prior to the scheduled negotiations between the U.S and Chinese deputy in Washington. Set to be the first physical meeting in almost two months, despite this the two sides remain divided on key issues.
These negotiations are taking place as the Trump administration has not been able to make progress on the trade situation with China since last year, disputing matters such as intellectual-property theft and how to enforce any new rules to address it.
The new discussions are designed to ease tension and create a way forward for high-level negotiations at the beginning of October in an attempt to resolve the 14-month trade war.
However, trade experts and government officials have little hope in the talks as many believe that the trade was has become a political and ideological battle that goes far beyond tariff deals.
Trump’s frustrations have also been expressed regarding the balance between the two countries. With just four months to resolve the trade markets, opening the markets up to American farmers who have suffered expensive tariffs on products for over a year.