BIARRITZ, France — Donald Trump today predicted that Beijing would blink first in its trade dispute with the U.S. but also made a rare confession that he has entertained doubts about whether the escalating tit-for-tat tariff duel is the right course.
Speaking ahead of a meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the U.S. president insisted that the Chinese “want to make a deal much more than I do,” but also showed shakier confidence on the trade war than usual.
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When asked whether he has had second thoughts on the trade escalation, he replied: “Yeah, sure. Why not?” When asked the same question again, he added: “Might as well. Might as well … I have second thoughts about everything.”
The White House moved swiftly to play down any idea of vacillation. Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said the answers had been misinterpreted and that he “responded in the affirmative — because he regrets not raising the tariffs higher.”
In a lively exchange with reporters ahead of their meeting at the G7 summit in Biarritz, Trump and Johnson heaped praise on one another but could not hide significant divisions over Trump’s approach to trade and to Russia.
Source: Trump admits ‘second thoughts’ on China, but predicts trade win
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