President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that he had spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping “many times” but did not specify whether those conversations occurred after he imposed stiff tariffs on China. When pressed for details, he responded, “I’ll let you know at the appropriate time.”
Earlier this week, on Tuesday, President Trump said that the steep 145% tariff currently placed on Chinese imports is likely to be reduced significantly. “One hundred forty-five percent is very high, and it won’t be that high,” he said, adding, “It will come down substantially, but it won’t be zero.” The President expressed optimism about a possible trade deal with China, reinforcing his earlier comments from the same day that things were going “fine with China.”
About his connection to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump affirmed the relationship, saying “he called” referring to negotiating about the tariffs. Later he doubled down on his statement, but without sharing details, Trump stressed “We’re meeting with China. We’re doing fine with everybody. But ultimately, I’ve made all the deals.”
Despite Trump’s statements, conflicting stories emerged throughout the week. Earlier, when asked whether he was engaging with China, Trump said, “everything’s active.” Yet his treasury secretary stated that no formal negotiations were underway.
On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said, “For all I know, China and the U.S. are not having any consultation or negotiation on tariffs, still less reaching a deal.”
