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U.S. Senator says seeing is believing when it comes to China deals

A U.S. Senator says she doesn’t have very high hopes for this week’s meeting between President Trump and the president of China.

During a recent webinar hosted by the Center for American Progress, Tammy Duckworth, of Illinois, says she’s still waiting for the Chinese to honor agreements that were made when the two countries met earlier this year.

“I’m just worried that he’s going to concede too much.”  She says, “You look at the result of the last summit, they promised the purchase of 200 Boeing aircraft and $17 billion in agricultural products. Neither one of those has come to pass.”

She says the two sides need to find a way to reduce tariffs for the benefit of both.

“For me, it’s I’m hopeful, but I don’t trust.”  She says, “We’re going to see a wave of bankruptcies like we’ve not seen since the ‘80s if we don’t fix the tariffs issue. That to me is a major burning thing that we need to try to get through.”

Duckworth says China represents a key agricultural trading partner that American farmers need to be able to access on an equal level with other global producers.

The U.S.-China summit is scheduled for Thursday.