Trump considering trade action against China: report

President Trump is considering taking trade actions against China, Reuters reported Wednesday.

Three senior administration officials told Reuters that the president is considering putting an import tariff on Chinese steel.

Trump repeatedly blasted Chinese trade policy during his presidential campaign, and has recently expressed frustration with China’s handling of North Korea.

The U.S. has repeatedly pressured Beijing to exert its influence over North Korea over its nuclear program.

{mosads}One official said that Trump “feels like he gave China a chance to make a difference” on North Korea, but is disappointed with the lack of results.

Trump tweeted his frustration with the situation last week, saying “while I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!”

Trump appeared optimistic on Chinese relations with North Korea, which depends on China for much of its energy, after he hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in April at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla.

Since the meeting, however, North Korea has continued to conduct missile tests. 

“We need to work together to deal with some of the pressing, difficult issues, such as the threat from North Korea. We want to work together to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula,” Terry Branstad, the U.S. ambassador in Beijing, said Wednesday. 

Relations with North Korea were further complicated for Trump after the death of student Otto Warmbier last week, a student who was imprisoned in North Korea for 17 months and medically evacuated in a coma in June.

Warmbier suffered extensive brain damage during his captivity.

At a Monday meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House, Trump noted that India will join the U.S. and Japan in carrying out joint naval exercises in the Indian Ocean as a response to recent North Korean aggression in the region.

India, a Chinese rival in the region, will also join the U.S. in imposing new economic sanctions against North Korea.