Trump says he doesn't 'blame' China for 'unfair' trade relationship

Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.
(Image credit: Thomas Peter-Pool/Getty Images)

In front of Chinese business leaders and President Xi Jinping, President Trump on Thursday described the U.S. trade relationship with China as being "one-sided and unfair," but said he doesn't fault China for the deals it has made.

"Who can blame a country that is able to take advantage of another country for the benefit of its citizens?" Trump said. "I give China great credit." Trump is in Beijing as part of his 13-day tour of Asia, and said he has "great chemistry" with Xi and thinks they will do "tremendous things" together. Xi wasn't quite as effusive with his remarks, merely saying they have reached a "new starting point" in their relationship.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.