Trump, "Relationship with China Damaged... No Plans for Phase 2 Trade Deal"

Claims "Keeping Many Other Things in Mind"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 10th (local time) that he is not currently considering a Phase 2 trade agreement.

According to the White House press pool on the 10th (local time), President Trump made this remark to reporters on board his plane while traveling to Florida.

When asked whether there is a possibility of a Phase 2 trade agreement or if discussions are underway, President Trump said, "I am not thinking about that right now." He claimed, "The relationship with China has been seriously damaged," and added, "They could have stopped the epidemic, but they did not."

When asked if that means there will be no Phase 2 agreement, he said, "Honestly, I have many other things in mind." However, he did not elaborate on what those things are.

In the Phase 1 U.S.-China trade agreement signed last January, China agreed to purchase an additional $200 billion worth of U.S. products over the next two years compared to 2017 levels, covering sectors such as agricultural products, manufactured goods, services, and energy.

However, due to ongoing disputes between the U.S. and China over responsibility for the spread of COVID-19, as well as rising tensions over the recent Hong Kong National Security Law issue, the conflict between the two countries has deepened, leading to expectations that the implementation of the Phase 1 agreement and discussions on Phase 2 negotiations will not proceed smoothly.