Donald Trump said Sunday that his trade war with China does not cause tension at the top of the G7, despite the concerns expressed by several other leaders. The US president also told Biarritz that he does not intend to take any further action against Beijing for the moment.
One regret: not to have hit harder
"I think they respect the trade war, it was supposed to take place," Donald Trump told reporters before a meeting with other G7 leaders, including Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel and Shinzo Abe. Asked about possible criticisms from his counterparts on the subject, he said: "No, not at all, I did not hear that".
The US president also said that his only regret resided in the fact of "not having raised more tariffs" towards China.
In fact, many of its counterparts have expressed concerns about the negative impact of this trade conflict on the global economy and markets. Like British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who told Donald Trump he was "in favor of commercial peace" and that he "does not like customs taxes".
No state of national emergency for now
Financial markets fell after the announcement of new US taxes on a total of $ 550 billion of Chinese imports, in response to a further rise in Chinese tariffs.
The US president has admitted to having some doubts about the desirability of escalating his trade war. He said he would refrain for the moment from declaring a state of national emergency that would allow him, according to him, to order American companies to leave China. "I have the right, if I want, I could declare a state of national emergency, but I have no intention for now," he said.