Donald Trump: new approach towards China and North Korea

Seeking foreign policy dialogue in the Far East for the tycoon re-elected as US president

Donald Trump, during an interview with Fox News, expressed his willingness to seek dialogue in foreign policy, particularly with China and North Korea. The US president said he preferred not to impose tariffs on Beijing, arguing that an agreement could be reached with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. On the North Korean front, Trump described Kim Jong-un as an ‘intelligent person’.

The Issue of Duties with China

During the interview, Trump admitted that he would prefer not to impose tariffs on China, despite the fact that during the election campaign he had raised the issue of the trade imbalance with his Asian rival by threatening import levies. However, he opened to the possibility of reaching an agreement with Xi Jinping on Taiwan and trade, stating: ‘I can do it because we have something they want, we have a pot of gold’.

The Power of Duties

Trump emphasised the great power the US has over China through tariffs, acknowledging that they represent enormous power. Shortly after taking office, Trump declared that 10% tariffs on all Chinese imports could be triggered on 1 February, whereas in the election campaign he had said he could go as high as 60%. China, for its part, warned that there would be ‘no winners’ in a trade war and vowed to defend its economic interests.

US-China Economic Cooperation

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning argued that the US and China could resolve their differences through dialogue, denying that Beijing had ever deliberately pursued a trade surplus with the US. Mao Ning stated that economic and trade cooperation between China and the US is mutually beneficial and win-win, in line with what Trump said on Fox News.

The Dialogue with North Korea

In the same interview, Trump also touched on North Korea, focusing on Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. Trump said he got on well with Kim, describing him as an intelligent person and not a religious fanatic. Trump, who was the first US president to set foot in North Korea, met with Kim three times during his first term, most recently in 2019 at the Demilitarised Zone on the border with South Korea. The president opened the door to new developments on the Korean front, stating, ‘I will hear from him.’

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