China Denies Recent Call Between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump

Photo : AFP

China's foreign ministry rejected claims from U.S. President Donald Trump about ongoing talks between the two countries regarding tariff negotiations. The foreign ministry clarified on Monday that President Xi Jinping has not spoken to Trump recently, contradicting Trump's remarks made in a Time magazine interview.

Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, said, "As far as I know, the two heads of state have not called each other recently." He emphasized that there have been no consultations or negotiations between the U.S. and China regarding the tariffs issue. Guo further stated, "If the U.S. really wants to solve the problem through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop threatening and blackmailing."

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The disagreement between the U.S. and China comes amidst an ongoing trade dispute. Trump had told Time magazine that his administration was actively engaging in discussions with China and that President Xi had reached out to him directly. However, Beijing swiftly rejected the claim and accused Washington of misleading the public about the status of trade negotiations.

Trump's assertion came after speculation regarding the future of trade talks between the two largest economies in the world. The trade war between the U.S. and China has escalated under Trump's leadership, with both sides imposing steep tariffs on each other’s goods. Trump’s administration recently considered lowering tariffs on some Chinese imports as part of a potential deal, but China has called for the complete removal of unilateral tariffs imposed by the U.S.

Since Trump took office, both nations have hiked tariffs on each other's products by over 100%. This has resulted in increased operational costs for businesses and contributed to global market instability. Despite these tensions, China has taken steps to alleviate the impact on U.S. imports, including exempting some goods from the 125% tariffs it imposed. Chinese authorities have also asked businesses to identify critical goods that should be exempt from the levies.

On the other hand, Chinese policymakers downplayed the impact of U.S. tariffs on their economy. The government has reassured the public that the broader tariffs will not severely derail China's efforts to stabilize and boost its economy. However, the trade dispute continues to cast a shadow over global economic prospects, with both countries striving to find a resolution.

This latest development highlights the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China regarding trade, with both sides maintaining conflicting narratives about their engagement in negotiations.