Trump says that if an agreement is not reached with China, remember that he is "a tariff man"

WASHINGTON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday thatThe United States would reach an agreement with China if that were possible, but stressed that if both sides could not resolve their disputes, he would return to tariffs.

Trump said his team of trade advisers led by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will determine whether a "CONCRETE deal" with China is possible.

"If it is, we will do it," Trump said via Twitter. "But if not, remember, I'm a tariff man."

The Republican president also maintainedthe possibility of an extension of the 90-day trade truce which he agreed over the weekend with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.

"Negotiations with China have already begun. Unless extended, they will end 90 days from the date of our wonderful and very warm dinner with President Xi in Argentina," Trump said in another tweet.

Trump and Xi called a ceasefire in a trade war that has disrupted the flow of hundreds of billions of dollars in goods between the world's two largest economies due to escalating mutual tariffs on imports.

The leaders agreed on Saturday suspend the application of new tariffs for 90 days, starting December 1, as they negotiate a pact to end their trade disputes.

Trump added Tuesday that China is supposed to "immediately begin buying agricultural and other products."

The United States expects immediate actions from China on trade issues after the agreement reached on Saturday, including lowering tariffs on automobiles and measures against intellectual property theft and forced technology transfers, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Monday.

Trump has long accused China of unfair trade practices that harm Americans and their country's economy.

"When people or countries enter to raid the great wealth of our Nation, I want them to pay for the privilege of doing so. It will always be the best way to maximize our economic power," said the US president.

The appointment of Lighthizer to lead the talks, instead of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, puts one of the Chinese government's harshest critics in charge of the process. Trump said Tuesday that Lighthizer would work closely with Mnuchin, Kudlow and trade adviser Peter Navarro.

Report by Doina Chiacu; Edited in Spanish by Ana Laura Mitidieri.