Trump Seeks Nuclear Agreement with China, Says NYT
US President Donald Trump is said to be seeking a comprehensive deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping that would “benefit both sides.” Read Full Article at RT.com
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The agreement could reportedly be part of a broader accord negotiated directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
US President Donald Trump is aiming for a comprehensive arrangement with China that encompasses nuclear weapons security, according to a report by the New York Times on Wednesday, which referenced White House advisers.
The NYT outlined that the proposed deal would go beyond trade relations, incorporating significant Chinese investments and assurances to buy more American products. It is also intended to tackle nuclear security—a topic Trump plans to discuss directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as indicated by “more than half a dozen” current and former Trump advisers.
Michael Pillsbury, a China expert who was a consultant for Trump during his first-term trade discussions, mentioned to the NYT that Trump had expressed to him “a few months ago” his aspiration to finalize a deal with Xi “that benefits both sides.”
Despite this aim, advisors noted that considerable challenges persist, particularly as the Trump administration has not yet explicitly articulated its demands from Beijing.
While China is viewed as one of the “biggest national security threats” to the US, it is also a significant trading partner and plays a crucial role on several fronts, including nuclear security, technology, and pandemic preparedness.
Recently, the Pentagon declared that China represents the foremost defense priority for the US, labeling it a “peer competitor” capable of threatening US national interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
Last week, Trump informed reporters at the White House of his proposal for discussions with China and Russia regarding reductions in the nuclear stockpiles of all three nations and potentially halving defense budgets. He expressed hope to meet with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin “when things calm down.”
Some Chinese analysts, according to the NYT, have minimized the chances of a deal due to the cautious stance of Chinese officials toward Trump, anticipating that tensions will persist. However, they have reportedly been working on a proposal that could entice the US president back to negotiations.
Relations between the US and China deteriorated during Trump's first term, escalating into a trade war after he enacted billions of dollars in tariffs on Chinese products in 2018, citing unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft. China retaliated with its own tariffs on American goods, intensifying the conflict. A Phase One trade agreement was reached in early 2020, but many commitments were not fulfilled, partly due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Recently, Trump has introduced additional tariffs on key trade partners, including a 10% duty on Chinese imports over and above existing tariffs. China has strongly opposed this measure and retaliated by imposing tariffs on vital US exports while urging Washington to resume negotiations.
Both China and Russia have expressed openness to collaborate with the US on nuclear disarmament. In response to Trump's reported proposal for future nuclear discussions, Beijing has reiterated its “no first use” policy.
Russia’s deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, stated that meaningful talks on disarmament could resume if Washington alters its approach. The last binding bilateral nuclear arms treaty between the US and Russia is set to expire next year.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump is aiming for a comprehensive arrangement with China that encompasses nuclear weapons security, according to a report by the New York Times on Wednesday, which referenced White House advisers.
The NYT outlined that the proposed deal would go beyond trade relations, incorporating significant Chinese investments and assurances to buy more American products. It is also intended to tackle nuclear security—a topic Trump plans to discuss directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as indicated by “more than half a dozen” current and former Trump advisers.
Michael Pillsbury, a China expert who was a consultant for Trump during his first-term trade discussions, mentioned to the NYT that Trump had expressed to him “a few months ago” his aspiration to finalize a deal with Xi “that benefits both sides.”
Despite this aim, advisors noted that considerable challenges persist, particularly as the Trump administration has not yet explicitly articulated its demands from Beijing.
While China is viewed as one of the “biggest national security threats” to the US, it is also a significant trading partner and plays a crucial role on several fronts, including nuclear security, technology, and pandemic preparedness.
Recently, the Pentagon declared that China represents the foremost defense priority for the US, labeling it a “peer competitor” capable of threatening US national interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
Last week, Trump informed reporters at the White House of his proposal for discussions with China and Russia regarding reductions in the nuclear stockpiles of all three nations and potentially halving defense budgets. He expressed hope to meet with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin “when things calm down.”
Some Chinese analysts, according to the NYT, have minimized the chances of a deal due to the cautious stance of Chinese officials toward Trump, anticipating that tensions will persist. However, they have reportedly been working on a proposal that could entice the US president back to negotiations.
Relations between the US and China deteriorated during Trump's first term, escalating into a trade war after he enacted billions of dollars in tariffs on Chinese products in 2018, citing unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft. China retaliated with its own tariffs on American goods, intensifying the conflict. A Phase One trade agreement was reached in early 2020, but many commitments were not fulfilled, partly due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Recently, Trump has introduced additional tariffs on key trade partners, including a 10% duty on Chinese imports over and above existing tariffs. China has strongly opposed this measure and retaliated by imposing tariffs on vital US exports while urging Washington to resume negotiations.
Both China and Russia have expressed openness to collaborate with the US on nuclear disarmament. In response to Trump's reported proposal for future nuclear discussions, Beijing has reiterated its “no first use” policy.
Russia’s deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, stated that meaningful talks on disarmament could resume if Washington alters its approach. The last binding bilateral nuclear arms treaty between the US and Russia is set to expire next year.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
