Trump Reveals Ongoing Communications with Xi Amid Tariff Tensions

President Donald Trump disclosed multiple conversations with Chinese President Xi Jinping, hinting at potential tariff reductions amidst ongoing trade disputes.

President Donald Trump, during a press interaction at the White House, revealed that he has been in communication with Chinese President Xi Jinping ‘many times.’ However, Trump remained non-committal about whether these discussions occurred after the implementation of significant tariffs on China. The remarks came as Trump prepared to depart for Rome to attend Pope Francis’ funeral, amidst swirling reports about the nature of U.S.-China trade negotiations.

Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods have escalated to 145%, while China retaliated with a 125% tariff on U.S. imports, causing global market disturbances and supply chain disruptions. In a recent TIME interview, Trump suggested that Xi had personally reached out to discuss trade, although he did not elaborate on the specifics of their conversation. Trump’s comments, which portrayed him as a decisive leader setting the terms of trade, were met with skepticism from Beijing. China’s Foreign Ministry denied any active negotiations with the U.S., emphasizing a stance of openness to dialogue but only on terms of mutual respect and equality.

Despite the conflicting reports, Trump remained optimistic about reducing the tariff rate on Chinese exports, stating that while the rate would not drop to zero, it would come down ‘substantially’ from the current 145%. This stance indicates ongoing efforts to navigate the complex U.S.-China trade relationship, with potential implications for global economic dynamics.