Former US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about improving US-China relations under his administration while underscoring the need for a “level playing field” in trade. Virtually addressing the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Trump described the US-China trade relationship as “unfair” and criticized past policies for exacerbating the situation.
Trump highlighted significant trade deficits with China, attributing the imbalance to policies implemented during President Biden’s tenure.
“It’s just an unfair relationship. We have to make it fair. All we want is fairness. We don’t want to take advantage, but we can’t keep running massive deficits with China. Biden allowed it to get out of hand,” Trump stated.
Trump emphasized that the US is seeking fairness, not superiority, in trade.
“We don’t have to make it phenomenal, just fair. Right now, it’s not a fair relationship,” he said.
The former president also pointed out that the US runs significant deficits with several Asian countries, stressing the need to address these imbalances.
“The deficit is massive, not just with China but with other countries—many in Asia. We can’t keep doing that. So, we are not going to keep doing that,” he said.
Despite trade tensions, Trump spoke positively about his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, describing their interactions as generally cordial, even during challenging times like the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan.
“I like President Xi very much. We always had a very good relationship, even when COVID strained things. I think we can work well with China moving forward,” Trump remarked.
Trump also expressed hope that China could play a constructive role in addressing global challenges, particularly the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
“Hopefully, China can help us stop the war, particularly in Russia-Ukraine. They have significant influence over that situation,” he added.
Trump noted that he had spoken with Xi Jinping just days before his swearing-in as president. The two leaders discussed various issues, including trade, fentanyl, and TikTok, and expressed a shared commitment to addressing global challenges.
“We agreed to solve many problems together and to do everything possible to make the world more peaceful and safe,” Trump said.
The WEF summit in Davos, held from January 20 to 24, serves as a platform for world leaders to address pressing global challenges, economic reforms, and sustainability goals.
Trump’s comments reflect his administration’s ongoing focus on recalibrating US-China trade relations, with a strong emphasis on fairness and reducing trade imbalances, while maintaining diplomatic ties with Beijing.
