USTR Representative: "Trump and Xi Agree on Goal of Korean Peninsula Denuclearization"

"U.S. and China Oppose Strait of Hormuz Transit Fees"
"Maintaining the Status Quo in the Taiwan Strait Is Crucial"

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to maintain the goal of "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" during the U.S.-China summit held on the 14th and 15th, according to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

Jamison Greer, USTR Representative. Photo by Yonhap News

Jamison Greer, USTR Representative, stated in an interview with ABC News on the 17th (local time), in response to the question, "What was the most substantive progress made at this (U.S.-China) summit?" that "some of it was related to foreign policy, andPresident Trump and President Xi agreed to maintain the goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula."

Representative Greer accompanied President Trump on his visit to China and attended all official meetings, including the summit on the 14th, as well as the tea meeting and working luncheon held the following day.

The agreement by the leaders of the United States and China to maintain the goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula is interpreted as a shared principle that North Korea's ambitions to be recognized as a nuclear-armed state by the international community cannot be accepted.

However, it remains uncertain whether China, which values its relationship with North Korea, will actually intensify its pressure on Pyongyang. This uncertainty stems from the fact that China has not cooperated in recent years with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) condemnations and the strengthening of sanctions in response to North Korea's ballistic missile launches.

The United States also maintains its goal of denuclearizing North Korea, but amid pressing issues such as the war in Iran, it has not presented any concrete measures to achieve North Korea's denuclearization.

Previously, after the summit between President Trump and President Xi on the 14th, China's Xinhua News Agency reported that "the two leaders exchanged views on major international and regional issues, including the situation in the Middle East, the Ukraine crisis, and the Korean Peninsula." However, the official White House statement on the summit did not mention anything related to the Korean Peninsula.

"Opposing Strait of Hormuz Transit Fees... Importance of Maintaining the Status Quo in the Taiwan Strait"

Additionally, when asked what commitments China made regarding keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, Representative Greer said, "The President did not ask them (China) to take any action in the Strait of Hormuz during the summit," adding, "The President was very focused on ensuring that they (China) do not provide material support to Iran, and that is the commitment he secured and confirmed."

He emphasized, "China is very eager for the strait to remain open. They (China) want to make sure that no one can impose transit fees."

When asked how President Trump is leveraging arms sales to Taiwan in negotiations with China, Representative Greer replied, "The United States has long sold arms to Taiwan, but there have also been many times when sales were not made. Former President Obama suspended arms sales, and former President Bush did as well."

He continued, "Realistically, it is very important for the United States and China to maintain stable relations. Arms sales to Taiwan have always been an issue raised by China, and the President is considering how to approach this matter."

Representative Greer further stated, "Most importantly, there must be no change in the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, and the President has been very clear on this point. There is no change in the United States' Taiwan policy," adding, "If President Xi seeks to alter this, it will undoubtedly be a matter for consideration. The President is very focused on ensuring that nothing happens there."

U.S. Hints at Possibility of Additional Tariff Increases Against China

In an interview with CBS News, Representative Greer indicated that the Trump administration may consider additional tariff increases against China. Although tariffs on China were reduced following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to nullify reciprocal tariffs, he expressed the view that tariffs could be raised again depending on the results of the Section 301 investigation under the Trade Act.

Regarding the ongoing Section 301 investigations against China, South Korea, and other countries following the reciprocal tariff nullification, Representative Greer said, "China is aware that the United States can raise tariffs back to previous higher levels, and that is part of the bilateral agreement."

Mentioning the so-called "Busan deal," which has remained in effect since the U.S.-China summit held in Busan last October, Representative Greer said, "After the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling, tariff rates on China are about 10 percentage points lower. We believe that, under this agreement, we can raise the tariff rates again."

He added, "We cannot prejudge the outcome of the (Section 301) investigation," but also stated, "If the investigation finds tariff barriers or unfair trade practices, we will present options such as the imposition of tariffs, service fees, or setting quotas."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.