Amid a trade war that has lasted nearly 16 months, President Trump on Friday said that the first phase of a deal with China would be signed somewhere in the U.S.

Trump cited signing the resolution in Iowa. The state, largely dependent on agricultural, has been significantly impacted by Trump’s ongoing trade war with China. It is also considered a key battleground state in the 2020 presidential elections.

“I want to get the deal done first, but we’re thinking about Iowa,” Trump said on the South Lawn of the White House. “You know why? It would be the largest order in history for farmers. So to me, Iowa makes sense. I love Iowa. It’s a possibility.”

Trump claimed Friday that talks with China on the initial agreement were going well and that he would sign the deal soon.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping were expected to sign phase one of a deal on Nov. 16 at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Santiago, Chile. However, this plan was scrapped after Chile backed out of hosting the summit, due to ongoing civil protests.

Terry Branstad, the U.S. ambassador to China, served as the governor of Iowa from 1983 to 1999 and then again from 2011 to 2017.

The president won 51.1% of the vote in Iowa in the 2016 election. Polls show that Trump has a higher disapproval rating than approval rating in Iowa.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross suggested recently that Alaska or Hawaii were likely locations for the signing. Ross also said that that the deal could instead be signed in China.

US President Donald Trump, pictured October 30, 2019
US President Donald Trump, pictured October 30, 2019. AFP / SAUL LOEB
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