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President Donald Trump speaks alongside Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis during a meeting in the Oval Office on Thursday.
President Donald Trump offered more optimism about China trade talks on Thursday, as he asserted he didn’t break campaign-finance laws and held discussions with the Czech Republic’s prime minister.
CHINA TALKS
Trump again characterized trade talks between the U.S. and China as “moving along,” putting a positive note on discussions between the world’s two largest economies. His remarks, during a meeting with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, came as the New York Times reported Chinese officials are wary that the final terms of a deal may be less favorable, especially given Trump’s propensity for last-minute changes.
The report said the emerging gap is starting to put in doubt plans for President Xi Jinping to meet with Trump in late March or early April to sign a deal.
Investors are watching the talks closely. On Thursday, stocks DJIA, -0.78% retreated as investors weighed mounting evidence of a slowing global economy after the European Central Bank slashed its GDP forecasts and pledged continued monetary support for its flagging economy.
Trump met Thursday with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who has participated in the talks with Chinese officials. A Treasury spokesperson didn’t return a request for comment about the meeting.
See: Stocks under pressure as global growth concerns move to the fore.
CAMPAIGN-FINANCE TWEET
On Twitter, Trump said he didn’t break campaign-finance laws, reiterating his past defense in the wake of testimony from his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen. Cohen said Trump reimbursed him for an illegal hush-money payment.
“It was not a campaign contribution, and there were no violations of the campaign finance laws by me. Fake News!” the president said on Twitter.
See: Cohen reveals new probe of Trump by prosecutors — and 6 other takeaways from his testimony.
Trump’s tweet came the same day Cohen sued the Trump Organization, claiming it broke a promise to pay his legal bills and owes at least $1.9 million to cover the cost of his defense.
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