President Donald Trump today accused China of "vicious" tactics on trade as he prepared for tough negotiations with European leaders in an escalating trade battle among world powers.
Trump tweeted that China was specifically targeting US farmers with retaliatory tariffs because "they know I love & respect" them.
His defense came after his administration announced a plan to provide USD 12 billion in emergency relief for farmers who have been slammed by the president's trade disputes with China and other countries.
Addressing the China trade relationship, Trump wrote on Twitter, "They are being vicious in what will be their failed attempt. We were being nice - until now!"
Yesterday, Trump suggested in a tweet that "both the U.S. and the E.U. drop all Tariffs, Barriers and Subsidies! That would finally be called Free Market and Fair Trade! Hope they do it, we are ready - but they won't!"
"You've got to treat everybody the same." Senator Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said the Agriculture Department was "trying to put a Band-aid on a self-inflicted wound. The administration clobbers farmers with an unnecessary trade war then attempts to assuage them with taxpayer handouts. This bailout compounds bad policy with more bad policy."
Trump pushed back against critics of his plan on Wednesday, telling them to "be cool" because "the end result will be worth it!"
On Twitter, Trump said people "snipping at your heels during a negotiation" will only delay the process. He wrote: "Negotiations are going really well, be cool. The end result will be worth it!"