Trump Suggests the Idea of Cutting off the ‘Whole Relationship’ With China Amid the Pandemic

President Donald Trump is suggesting the U.S. could cut trade ties with China amid tensions during the coronavirus pandemic.

During an appearance on Fox Business Thursday, Trump discussed the United States’ current trade deal with China.

The president expressed his disappointment in China over the coronavirus, revealing the pandemic response has him skeptical of maintaining a long-term relationship with the populous country.

“I’m very disappointed in China. I will tell you that right now,” Trump said.

He said, “China… I made a great trade deal. The ink wasn’t even dry when the plague came over. But the ink wasn’t even dry.”

Later in the interview, Trump discussed international trade, mentioning his disappointment with China a second time.

“They should have never let this happen. So I make a great trade deal and now I say it just doesn’t feel the same to me. The ink was barely dry and the plague came over. And it doesn’t feel the same to me,” Trump said.

When asked if he thinks China will “renege” on the deal, Trump made it clear that because of the alleged mishandling of the pandemic, he has no plans to renegotiate the trade deal.

He said, “They said somewhere I see they’d like to renegotiate the deal, we’re not going to renegotiate. Look, I’m not happy about anything having to do with that particular subject right now.”

See Trump’s remarks below:

Mulling over the idea of no longer doing business with China, Trump said, “You could also stop doing business with them. That’s one thing.”