The United States "may or may not" get a trade deal with China, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo conceded in an interview airing Wednesday.
"Much will turn on whether China is prepared to deal with [President] Donald Trump," Pompeo told Fox Business' "Mornings with Maria" host Maria Bartiromo. "It is pretty simple: fair, reciprocal trading rules that apply to both countries."
Trump is prepared to allow American companies to compete against Chinese firms, Pompeo added, but not to allow them to continue to steal the United States' intellectual property or to put tariffs on American goods.
"I hope there is an arrangement that will work to the benefit of each of our countries, but if there is not, I'm very convinced the American economy will continue to grow," Pompeo said. "I can't predict what the Chinese will do . . . China had an unfair trade relationship with the United States for a long time and Donald Trump's focus is to push back against it."
The United States also faces security risks from China's military, which has undergone a "significant arms buildup" not just in quantity but in "capability and capacity on both fronts."
There is a comprehensive government strategy against China, Pompeo said, and the "great news" is it is not a partisan matter.
"I have spoken to nearly every member of the U.S. Senate about these issues," Pompeo said. "Democrats and Republicans alike understand these concerns and express willingness to support America's efforts to push back against it, and I am convinced we will be successful."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.