DEAR GOD

Trump on China Negotiations: I Am ‘a Tariff Man’

“When people or countries come in to raid the great wealth of our Nation, I want them to pay for the privilege of doing so.“

President Trump took to Twitter Tuesday to pontificate on his recent trade deal with China, labeling himself “a tariff man” and threatening to reinstate his drastic trade policies if the deal does not pan out. As The Daily Beast previously reported, Trump struck a deal with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping at the G-20 summit in which he postponed his plan to double duties on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, in exchange for China purchasing a “very substantial amount of agricultural, energy, industrial” products from the U.S. The two countries now plan to negotiate for the next 90 days to establish a lasting resolution.

“President Xi and I want this deal to happen, and it probably will,” Trump tweeted. “But if not remember I am a Tariff Man. When people or countries come in to raid the great wealth of our Nation, I want them to pay for the privilege of doing so. It will always be the best way to max out our economic power. We are right now taking in $billions in Tariffs. MAKE AMERICA RICH AGAIN.” In another tweet, however, Trump acknowledged that he’s open to negotiation: “If a fair deal is able to be made with China, one that does all of the many things we know must be finally done, I will happily sign,” Trump wrote. “Let the negotiations begin.”

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