Trump said the US-China Phase One trade deal was very close but he was not anxious to implement it.

"We have an agreement, potentially very close. Xi Jinping wants a deal more than me. I am not anxious to implement it," US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News.

Trump's statement was considered encouraging in the context of Chinese President Xi Jinping saying he wanted a deal with the US, but was not afraid to respond if necessary. Xi said China is working hard with the United States to reach a Phase One deal on the basis of equality and mutual respect, avoiding a trade conflict.

Trump said the levy on imports with China was a "godsend", though many economists said the policy was a burden on the US economy. Trump also did not specify whether the two sides would actually make progress to finalize the U.S.-China Phase One trade agreement document published in October.

The U.S.-China trade war began in 2018, with the two countries constantly applying tariffs before starting negotiations to resolve conflicts. The two countries agreed on a number of terms in the Phase One trade agreement, in which the United States agreed to phase out tariffs and China accepted to buy more of its agricultural products. US officials said they considered delaying a new tax increase expected to take effect on December 15.

China's Ministry of Commerce said on November 21 that it maintains channels for communication with the United States and the Phase One trade agreement "is fully in line with the interests of China, the United States and the world". Trump warned that if the two countries do not reach a trade agreement, the United States will raise taxes more strongly on Chinese goods.