Donald Trump, the former U.S. president and Republican presidential candidate, stated that if he wins the election this November, he will have his first call with Chinese President Xi Jinping and urge the implementation of the trade agreement with China that was agreed upon during his previous term.
On the 23rd (local time), at a forum held in Pennsylvania, the key battleground state in the presidential election, Trump said that China has not fulfilled its agreement to import $5 billion worth of U.S. agricultural products.
He emphasized, "My first call will be with President Xi," and said, "'You must honor the agreement you made.'" He also added, "I guarantee that he (Xi Jinping) will buy 100% of it." Previously, in December 2019, Trump had expanded exports to China, including agricultural products, through a trade agreement with China, in exchange for reducing some tariffs.
However, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, as of December 2021, China had imported less than 60% of the goods and services it had promised at that time. On this day, Trump blamed the Biden administration and Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris for the decline in momentum of the U.S.-China trade agreement.
Additionally, Trump threatened to impose heavy tariffs if Deere & Co., an American agricultural machinery manufacturer, moves its production facilities to Mexico. Citing related reports, he said, "I am warning John Deere (the brand of Deere & Co.) right now. If they do that, I will impose a 200% tariff on all products sold to the U.S."
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