INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Donald Trump said he has taken steps to provide level-playing field to American businesses
(File)Washington: President Donald Trump has claimed that America has "rebuilt" China, saying the Communist
trading giant has been "taking out" $500 billion a year from the US.President Trump's comment came a day after he threatened to impose
tariffs on an additional $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, escalating a trade war between the world's two largest economies.The move
followed tariffs applied last week on $50 billion in Chinese imports to the US
China responded by saying it would hit 659 US products worth $50 billion."You see what's happening with China
This should have been done many years ago
China has been taking out $500 billion a year out of our country and rebuilding China," Mr Trump said yesterday in his address to the
National Federation of Independent Businesses."I always say, 'We have rebuilt China'
It's time," Mr Trump said.Mr Trump, pursuing his 'America First' policy, has been insisting that China has been unfairly benefiting from a
massive trade imbalance with the US, now estimated to be $376 billion
During the 2016 election campaign, he had promised to use tariffs to cut the US trade deficits.The White House has warned that if China goes
through with its promise to retaliate against the US tariffs announced last week, the United States will impose tariffs on an additional
$200 billion worth of Chinese goods.Mr Trump said he has taken steps to provide level-playing field to American businesses."American
businesses now are on a level-playing field with your competitors from other countries who have so many advantages, including subsidy by
governments," he said.The President has said that he had ordered US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to identify a second tranche of
goods imported from China for tariffs of 10 per cent.Mr Trump said after the legal process is complete, these tariffs worth $200 billion
will go into effect if China refuses to change its practices.The US, the world's largest economy, has a trade deficit of $376 billion with
China, the world's second largest economy.A trade spat between the top two economies of the world began in April with Mr Trump imposing
tariffs on steel and aluminium imports into the US from China, which also retaliated by imposing additional tariffs worth about $three
billion on 128 US products.
