WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Thursday accused China of thinkingAmericans are “stupid” and vowed that he was ready to inflict economic painon the Asian power.

“They lived too well for too long and, frankly, I guess they think that theAmericans are stupid people. Americans are not stupid people,” theoutspoken mogul-turned-president told “Fox and Friends.”

Trump boasted that the $250 billion in tariffs he has slapped on Chineseproducts have “had a big impact.”

“Their economy has gone down very substantially,” he said. “I have a lotmore to do if I want to do it. I don´t want to do it but they have to cometo the table.”

Trump is pressing China to improve trading conditions for US products andto end what US businesses say is widespread theft of their intellectualproperty.

China has responded by imposing countertariffs, which the Trumpadministration alleges show political interference by targeting productsfrom key states in next month´s congressional elections.

The International Monetary Fund this week cited the trade war as it loweredits 2019 growth forecast for China, which is set to see its slowestexpansion since 1990, but also lowered estimates for the United States andthe global economy as a whole.

Trump renewed his charge that past presidents Barack Obama and George W.Bush “let China get out of control.”

“We are not going to pay $500 billion a year to China and rebuild China,”Trump said, likely referring to the total annual imports of Chinese goodsinto the United States.

“We have helped rebuild China more than any other factor. We have helpedrebuild it. I said it´s over.”

The undiplomatic language comes as disputes mount in numerous areas betweenChina and the United States, ending the early bonhomie between Trump andhis counterpart Xi Jinping.

US authorities on Wednesday said they arrested an alleged Chineseintelligence agent for plotting to obtain trade secrets from GE Aviationand other companies. – APP/AFP