Beijing calls on Trump to ‘meet China halfway’ after UN address

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman on Wednesday said the U.S. should “meet China halfway” after President Trump accused the country of unfair trade practices and defended his trade war during a United Nations General Assembly speech. 

Spokesman Geng Shuang said the U.S. should “see China’s development with an open, inclusive and win-win attitude and meet China halfway to control differences on the basis of mutual respect,” according to The Associated Press. 

{mosads}He also urged the U.S. to “listen to developing countries’ calls for rapid development, opposition to bullying and suppression and aspirations for peace and stability.”

The two countries have been in an escalating trade war for months and have been placing increasing tariffs on goods produced in the other nation. Trump defended the trade war in his Tuesday U.N. address.  

“Supply chains are relocating back to America and other nations and billions of dollars are being paid to our Treasury,” he said, crediting the administration’s tariffs. 

He also called for “massive change” at the World Trade Organization, saying that since China was admitted to the organization in 2001, it hasn’t taken up reforms and has manipulated currency. 

His comments come ahead of upcoming talks with China on trade.