Mnuchin seems to surprise Trump about the request to cancel China's visit to US farms

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"It's actually at our request, they have delayed that," said Mnuchin, sitting near the president and other Cabinet members, including Trade Secretary Wilbur Ross, at a bilateral press conference with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah e-Sisi in New York.

Mnuchin explained that the request had been made because of a scheduling problem and that these purchases of agricultural products would be made later.

"We did not want there to be confusion," Mnuchin said. "They started buying agriculture.They will postpone this to another time.The timing did not work.But it was, it was purely at our request."

Trump interrupted him to ask why his own government had caused this delay.

"Why was this our request, just out of curiosity?" Trump asked.

The secretary, one of Trump's leading trade negotiators, repeated that he "did not want to confuse trade issues."

Trump replied, "Yes, but I want them to buy farm produce."

Mnuchin replied, "There was no confusion.We want them to buy agriculture.They are committed to buying agriculture and they do it."

Trump repeated: "They committed to buying a lot of agriculture and they started." "And we should have them come as soon as possible so that they can start buying."

The exchange echoed a closed-door meeting with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer several months ago, in which Trump insisted that Lighthizer stop using the term "trade memorandum". "agreement" to describe the documents being negotiated.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Finance did not immediately comment on Monday's exchange.

Chinese importers have bought at least 720,000 tonnes of soybeans in the past two weeks, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

The Beijing delegation's visit was expected to follow talks at the vice-presidential level between US and Chinese negotiators in Washington last week in anticipation of talks at the main level next month, but later been canceled.

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue confirmed last week's visit stating, "I think they're trying to create goodwill and I'm looking forward to it."

The Embassy's e-mail informed the Montana Farm Bureau of this change: "According to the updated agenda of the Chinese delegation, VM Han and his team must return to China earlier than expected, they must go to beautiful Montana in the future. "

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