Trump Says China's President Called Him as Confusion Continues Amid Active Trade Talks

What Happened?

President Donald Trump has spoken out, following China's recent announcement that there were no ongoing tariff discussions with the U.S. despite indications.

In a recent interview, President Trump said his administration is talking with China to strike a deal and that Chinese President, Xi Jinping, had called him.

Trump did not state when Xi called or what was discussed but included that he would not call Xi, according to TIME magazine.

'He's called. And I don't think that's a sign of weakness on his behalf,' Trump said.

He added, his administration has made 200 tariff deals and expects negotiations to conclude in three to four weeks.

'We're meeting with China. We're doing fine with everybody. But ultimately, I've made all the deals,' said Trump.

Beijing, so far, has disputed these claims that there are negotiations on the economy and trade between the two countries.

Why it Matters

Ministry of Commerce spokesperson, He Yadong, recently told reporters that 'all sayings' regarding progress on bilateral talks should be dismissed.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, reportedly referred to reports of such negotiations as 'false news.'

China has called for all 'unilateral' U.S. tariffs to be canceled if the U.S. truly wants to de-escalate its trade war with Beijing.

The assertions are the opposite of remarks made by Trump that infer trade tensions between the U.S. and China are easing his way.

Trump told reporters last week he was considering plans to reduce Chinese tariffs, to reach a 'fair deal' on trade.

The softer tone comes after the two sides have rattled the global markets, increasing the risks of a 2025 recession.

The effective tariff rate for the U.S. surged past levels reached during the Great Depression, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its latest 2025 projection report.

Counter-responses significantly spiked the global rate.

Trump suggested that imposed tariffs on China will eventually 'come down substantially' and is not seeking to play 'hardball.'

How it Affects You

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, stated that the Trump administration hasn’t offered to take down U.S. tariffs on China on a unilateral basis.

The U.S. still holds a baseline rate of 145% on Chinese imports, while China levies remain at 125% on U.S. imports.

Trump suspended universal tariffs for 90 days and maintained a 10% blanket duty on almost all U.S. imports.

Automotives, steel, and aluminum levies of 25% were also kept in place.

The U.S. reportedly aims to potentially slash China tariffs to 50%-65%.

It's a move that could improve consumer confidence globally, which has tanked significantly amid the trade war escalation.

Both countries expressed optimism that a solution can still be found to bring the world’s two largest economies back on track as trade partners.