Reality check: Trump claims U.S.-China trade deal is world’s ‘biggest’

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday falsely proclaimed his trade deal with China to be the world’s largest agreement.

The deal is intended to ease some U.S. economic sanctions on China while Beijing would step up purchases of American farm products and other goods.

TRUMP: “This is the biggest deal there is anywhere in the world by far.’’ — remarks at the signing.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

THE FACTS: Not even close.

Setting aside global agreements on matters other than trade, Trump’s own deal with Mexico and Canada covers far more trade than the agreement signed with China. And earlier agreements have been far bigger in scale.

0:38 Trump says U.S., China trade deal will yield ‘benefits’ to both countries, strengthen relationship

• Trump says U.S., China trade deal will yield ‘benefits’ to both countries, strengthen relationship
• Senator Wyden calls Phase 1 trade deal ‘more of a Band-Aid than a solution’
• Schumer demands Trump ‘fix’ Phase 1 of China trade deal before moving onto Phase 2
• ‘Trump bent to China’: Chuck Schumer on Phase 1 of trade deal

Previous Video

Next Video

For instance, the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations concluded in 1994 created the World Trade Organization and was signed by 123 countries. The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston found the following year that the WTO’s initial membership accounted for more than 90% of global economic output.

Trump’s deal with China is described as the first phase of a broader one that is being sought. The agreement signed Wednesday leaves many U.S. grievances with China unresolved, kicking them ahead to the next round. It also maintains tariffs on about $360 billion in Chinese imports.