Trump announces trip to China after signing new trade agreement

U.S. President Donald Trump said he will go to China “in the not too distant future,” a trip that would be his second visit to the country while he’s been in office.

Trump’s announcement Wednesday came during the signing of “phase one” of a new trade agreement with China.

Under the agreement, China will buy up to $200 billion in U.S. products such as soybeans and pork, giving a boost to American farmers. China also agreed to step up intellectual property theft protections and remove barriers facing U.S. investors looking to compete in the Chinese market.

The U.S. in response has agreed to reduce tariffs on $120 billion in Chinese goods, as reported by Reuters, and suspend planned tariffs on close to $160 billion in Chinese products such as cellphones, toys and clothing.

Trump said during the signing that China President Xi Jinping was “watching as we speak.”

“I’ll be going over to China in the not too distant future to reciprocate,” he said.

Trump last visited China in November 2017, and he met with President Xi and China’s Premier Li Keqiang. The trip came amid rising tensions over trade, and Trump said at the time his feelings toward Xi were warm.

“I think we’re going to do tremendous things for both China and for the United States,” he said.

In other trip news, Trump said Wednesday that he was also considering going to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota for its Fourth of July celebration and fireworks.