China, in his words · First term · № 65
Said the US could cut off the whole relationship with China and save $500 billion
“There are many things we could do. We could cut off the whole relationship. ... Now, if you did, what would happen? You'd save $500 billion if you cut off the whole relationship.”
- Said
- , Interview with Maria Bartiromo, Fox Business 'Mornings with Maria'
- Subject
- cutting off relations
- Threat
- Economic threat
- Topic
- Trade & tariffs
- Era
- First term
What the record showed
Census Bureau figures put U.S. goods imports from China at $449.1 billion in 2019 and the goods deficit at $342.6 billion. The relationship was not cut off: on June 22, 2020 he tweeted 'The China Trade Deal is fully intact.' Two-way goods trade was $557.1 billion in 2020, $655.7 billion in 2021 and $690.3 billion in 2022. In his second term, a May 12, 2025 agreement had the United States and China 'each lower tariffs by 115%,' and after meeting Xi Jinping on October 30, 2025 he rated the meeting 'a 12' on a scale of 0 to 10.