China is itching for a trade deal because it 'can't lose 3 million jobs,' Trump says

(Image credit: Florence Lo - Pool/Getty Images)

published 26 August 2019

President Trump has nothing but compliments for China's President Xi Jinping — at least today.

In a Monday press conference following the end of the G7 summit, Trump discussed his ongoing trade war with China, touching on the increased tariffs both countries levied on each other on Friday. After this many taxes, China "want[s] to make a deal" and doesn't "have a choice," Trump said, because Xi "can't lose three million jobs in a short period of time."

Yet as The Washington Post's Aaron Blake notes, while three million jobs would be a huge hit for America's 160-million-person workforce, it's more of a blink for China's 750 million workers. Still, Trump remained convinced that a "brilliant leader" like Xi wouldn't let the continued conflict "break down the Chinese system of trade." Trump then pivoted to slam China for the apparent $500 billion trade deficit it has held over the U.S. for "many many years," which, as CNN's Daniel Dale points out, is not even close to a correct number.

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Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.

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