The president and top White House officials said they don’t actually think China will move forward with its tariff threats.
President Donald Trump and his allies tried to calm the waters on Sunday amid increasing concern that a trade war is about to break out between the world’s two largest economies. After a week in which the threats of tariffs on both sides roiled global markets the White House made clear it doesn’t think the effects will be all that dramatic.
“President Xi and I will always be friends, no matter what happens with our dispute on trade,” Trump wrote on Twitter before suggesting he thinks China will give in to demands and do what he wants. “China will take down its Trade Barriers because it is the right thing to do,” Trump wrote “Taxes will become Reciprocal & a deal will be made on Intellectual Property. Great future for both countries!”
Top White House officials espoused a similar message in the Sunday talk shows, saying the tariff threats are part of a strategy that will ultimately help boost global economic growth.
