President Trump on Tuesday slammed China as “cheaters,” but said a trade deal with the country could be “close.”

“Since China’s entrance into the World Trade Organization in 2001, no one has manipulated numbers better or taken advantage of the United States more,” Trump told the Economic Club of New York at the Hilton Midtown.

“I won’t use this word cheated. I will not say the word cheated, but nobody’s cheated better than China. And I don’t blame China. I blame our leaders,” he said before addressing the negotiations.

“We’re close. A significant phase-one trade deal with China could happen. It could happen soon,” he said.