Cui Tiankai Says Don’t Know Who Donald Trump Listens To In Matters Related To Trade

The US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping might have a meeting planned at the G20 summit next month as claimed by the President’s top economic advisor Larry Kudlow. The relationship between the US and China has strained in the last few months owing to the escalating trade war.

During a recent interview with Fox News Sunday, Cui Tiankai, China’s ambassador to the US, said that China has grown frustrated in trade talks due to conflicting signals from the Trump administration.

When the interviewer Chris Wallace asked Tiankai if he has any idea about who President Trump listens to on trade issues referring to White House chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow, trade adviser Peter Navarro, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, he said he is clueless about it.

“Honestly, I’ve been talking to ambassadors of other countries in Washington, D.C., and this is also part of their problem,” Cui said. “They don’t know who is the final decision-maker. Of course, presumably, the president will take the final decision. But who is playing what role? Sometimes, it could be very confusing.”

Cui further claimed that the US’s accusations of Beijing stealing intellectual property are baseless and not fair to the Chinese people.

He said that he is looking forward to the upcoming meeting between Trump and Jinping scheduled for next month.

“There’s a good, mutual understanding and a good working relationship between the two. I hope, and I’m sure, this will continue,” Cui said.

Meanwhile, during an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes,” when Trump was asked if he intends to impose more tariffs on Chinese products, he said it might happen. The President, however, added that he wants to negotiate a fair deal with China. HJe said that he wants the Chinese markets to be as open as the US markets.