Tillerson: Trump's Flattery Of China On Trade Was 'Tongue-In-Cheek'

Source: Talking Points Memo




By NICOLE LAFOND Published NOVEMBER 9, 2017 10:55 AM

President Donald Trump wasn’t being totally serious when he gave China “great credit” for taking “advantage” of the U.S. on trade, according to America’s top diplomat.

Speaking with reporters at the World China Hotel on Thursday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the President’s remarks were more “tongue-in-cheek,” but “there was also a lot of truth to it.”

During a speech before Chinese business leaders on Thursday, Trump said the economic playing field between the two countries was “very one-sided and unfair.” But Trump said he doesn’t blame China for that.

“After all, who can blame a country for being able to take advantage of another country for the benefit of its citizens? I give China great credit,” he said, remarks that are a far-cry from the way Trump characterized China’s trade policies with the U.S. on the campaign trail. At one point he claimed China was “raping” the U.S., referencing America’s more than $1 trillion debt to China because of an imbalance in imports and exports between the two countries.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/tillerson-giving-china-credit-taking-advantage-was-tongue-in-cheek