President Trump said the trade deficit between the U.S. and China must be resolved before he is willing to negotiate a deal regarding the tariffs he placed on Beijing.

“When you look at the trade deficit we have with certain countries … with China it’s a trillion dollars. And we have to solve our trade deficit with China,” Trump said late Sunday aboard Air Force One. “Hundreds of billions of dollars a year we lose with China.”

“I’m willing to make a deal but they have to solve their surplus,” he added.

On Friday, Trump criticized China after Beijing responded to the tariffs he imposed with equal duties of its own on U.S. goods.

Trump said China “played it wrong” and panicked in response to the 34-percent tariff imposed by the U.S.

China’s Finance Ministry said it would impose its own 34 percent tariff on imports from the U.S., sparking a retaliation that is causing concern for a global trade war.

Trump aboard Air Force One argued that no other president has taken on China’s trade deficit with the U.S. and he is looking to solve it.

“China is right now taking a big hit because everyone knows we’re right,” he said.

Trump’s tariff plan shook up the U.S. stock market and sparked concern for an international trade war. The market had its worst day of losses since the COVID-19 pandemic after Trump announced a 10 percent tariff on imported goods and specific reciprocal tariffs on various countries, including China.