Whitehouse Image Oval Office
4:31 P.M. EDT
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much. It’s a great honor to be with the Vice Premier of China, a highly respected man all over the world. We’ve had tremendous discussions. We’re getting very close to making a deal. That doesn’t mean a deal is made, because it’s not, but we’re certainly getting a lot closer. And I would think with — oh, within the next four weeks or maybe less, maybe more — whatever it takes — something very monumental could be announced.
***
We very much appreciate the letter from President Xi, who — recently, just now, I was handed a beautiful letter. I appreciate that. And I also, maybe in particular — I’m very happy to read these headlines that just came out: “China Bans All Types of Fentanyl, Cutting Supply of Deadly Drug to the United States and Fulfilling a Pledge to President Trump.” “China Announces New Crackdown on Fentanyl.” A terrific thing for the United States.
***
And a letter from our great Ambassador, Terry Branstad, saying exactly this: that China is reclassifying fentanyl and there will criminal penalties if you sell fentanyl. And, as you know, there weren’t any in the past. So this is a very big, big step, and we really appreciate it, from President Xi and from the Vice Premier.
***
We are rounding the turn. We’ll see what happens. We have a ways to go, but not very far. We’ve made a lot of progress. And I just want to welcome the Vice Premier. We’ve become friends. We know each other. Many of you got to meet the Vice Premier a couple of months ago, in the same office — the great Oval Office.
***
We’ve had tremendous discussions. We’re getting very close to making a deal. That doesn’t mean a deal is made, because it’s not, but we’re certainly getting a lot closer. And I would think with — oh, within the next four weeks or maybe less, maybe more — whatever it takes — something very monumental could be announced.
***
We very much appreciate the letter from President Xi, who — recently, just now, I was handed a beautiful letter. I appreciate that. And I also, maybe in particular — I’m very happy to read these headlines that just came out: “China Bans All Types of Fentanyl, Cutting Supply of Deadly Drug to the United States and Fulfilling a Pledge to President Trump.” “China Announces New Crackdown on Fentanyl.” A terrific thing for the United States.
***
