After meeting with Trump, Argentina’s president had to downplay a White House readout that described China’s economic behavior as "predatory."
A routine White House press statement describing a run-of-the-mill meeting Friday between President Donald Trump and Argentine President Mauricio Macri caused an unexpected diplomatic dust-up when it attacked China’s economic behavior as “predatory.”
The word choice, while common for the Trump administration, set off alarm bells for Argentine officials who are hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of the G-20 leaders summit, where the two countries will sign a trade pact. Argentina has also courted billions in investment from Beijing over the past decade, and is hoping to announce on Sunday the completion of an $8 billion deal to build a nuclear power plant.
Argentine chancellor Jorge Faurie attempted to walk back the White House statement, telling reporters that the tone of the meeting was “extremely cordial.”
“I don’t think there was a reference [to China] in those terms,” said Faurie, according to Argentine daily La Nación.
