Trump knocks Dems on trade with China: Why didn’t they do something?

President Trump on Monday knocked Democrats over trade with China, asking why they didn’t “do something” during the Obama administration. 

“I ask Senator Chuck Schumer, why didn’t President Obama & the Democrats do something about Trade with China, including Theft of Intellectual Property etc.?” the president wrote on Twitter, referring to the Senate minority leader, New York Democrat.

“They did NOTHING! With that being said, Chuck & I have long agreed on this issue! Fair Trade, plus, with China will happen!”

I ask Senator Chuck Schumer, why didn’t President Obama & the Democrats do something about Trade with China, including Theft of Intellectual Property etc.? They did NOTHING! With that being said, Chuck & I have long agreed on this issue! Fair Trade, plus, with China will happen!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 21, 2018

Trump repeatedly criticized China for its trade policies during the 2016 presidential campaign and earlier this year threatened to enact tariffs on billions of dollars of Chinese imports.

But Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin confirmed Sunday that the administration had put its tariffs plans “on hold” for the time being. 

Schumer has said he agrees with Trump’s stance on China’s trade policies and has advised Trump not to let President Xi Jinping “play” him in the negotiations.

“Don’t let President Xi play you,” Schumer told Trump in a tweet last week.

“Trading some short-term purchases of American goods and giving up on China’s theft of American intellectual property (which are our family jewels that will create millions of good paying jobs) is the art of a bad deal. Stand strong.”

Schumer also criticized Trump last week for saying he wants to help Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE get “back into business” after the Commerce Department prohibited American companies from selling to the company because it violated U.S. sanctions. 

The New York Democrat on Sunday also urged negotiators not to “blow” their chance in talks with China over trade.

“If President Xi is going to escape meaningful punishment for ZTE and fail to take strong actions on intellectual property, cyber theft, and American companies having free access to sell goods in China, and instead simply provide a promise to buy goods for the next few years, we will have lost. “ Schumer said.