Trump postpones tariff deadline, citing progress in trade talks in China



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Mr. Trump often weighed at the last minute to change the terms of previous negotiations, imposing tariffs or lifting sanctions on the basis of personal conversations with foreign leaders or compliments or insults received.

"The president has cut off, privately or publicly, each of his sales representatives," said William Reinsch, a former chief of commerce in the United States and now a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "The president is his own sales representative and he will make the decisions."

On Friday, in the Oval Office, Trump contradicted his senior trade adviser in front of the television cameras and asked him if the deal should be called a "memorandum of understanding," a phrase Trump called Too insufficient.

Yet the president was optimistic. In a tweet, Trump called the talks "very productive."

The lack of details on what the United States and China might agree raises concerns among Republicans and Democrats, who are concerned that Mr. Trump might sign an agreement that will not change. not many practices that US companies say put their workers – at a competitive disadvantage.

Legislators will have the opportunity to talk to the administration this week when Robert Lighthizer, Trump's chief business advisor, will testify on Wednesday about talks with China and other trade actions.

For the moment, Republicans are lagging behind as a positive element.

"Encouraging news from @POTUS that a trade deal with China is underway," said Senator Patrick J. Toomey, Republican of Pennsylvania. "I hope this will lead to an agreement that will end the theft of US intellectual property by China and avoid a large-scale trade war."

However, complications could still arise, including the importance of China to help the United States negotiate with North Korea. The Chinese helped the Trump administration organize another summit meeting with Kim Jong-un in Hanoi this week and Trump often spoke about Xi's relations with Kim, which put Mr. Trump in a delicate position: The assistance of China, while trying to play hard and win a trade agreement.

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