President Donald Trump’s faint advisor on China said on Wednesday that he didn’t expect a breakthrough in trade talks in the “near term.”
Michael Pillsbury, pilot of the Center for Chinese Strategy at the Hudson Institute and a noted China hawk with the ear of the president, suggested that he count oned a planned meeting between U.S. and Chinese negotiators scheduled for the end of the month to conclude without a trade deal.
“Over the conclusive 45 years, a lot of American presidents have negotiated with China,” Pillsbury said in response to a question in the air the meeting. “And there are some patterns to what has gone on. One of them is that the Chinese prefer to make a last-minute bargain, to get the best deal they can. So I am not among those who think there is going to be a breakthrough in the next few days.”
Pillsbury’s references came during a segment on CNBC’s “The Exchange,” anchored by Kelly Evans.
The meeting between U.S. negotiators and two Chinese shortcoming ministers was canceled, CNBC has reported, though the White House has said “the teams remain in touch in preparation for extravagant level talks” at the end of the month.
Pillsbury remained optimistic about the U.S. and China reaching a deal in the longer term.
“I don’t presume this to be a smooth deal. But I do expect success, because President Trump cares so much about the issue,” he suggested.
The U.S. has set a March 2 deadline for negotiators to reach a deal; if no deal is reached, tariffs are set to increase on $200 billion in Chinese moralities.