China Dismisses Claims of Trump’s Meeting with Xi
Tensions Rise Between the U.S. and China Amid Tariff Disputes
In a recent press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Ciakun addressed questions regarding the state of relations between China and the United States, emphasizing that there have been no recent telephone conversations between the two nations. He reiterated that discussions or negotiations concerning tariffs had not occurred.
This statement comes on the heels of comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump during an interview with Time Magazine and prior to a funeral ceremony attended by Pope Francis. Trump suggested that he would announce further details regarding his discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping “at the appropriate time.”
Tensions have escalated since Trump announced "mutual tariffs" on April 2, prompting China to respond in kind. As a result of this tariff dispute, the U.S. has raised its tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, while China has responded with tariffs of up to 125%. Interestingly, while the Trump administration has chosen to delay tariffs on other nations for 90 days, those imposed on China have already taken effect.
Claims of Ongoing Negotiations
On April 23, during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office, President Trump claimed that "negotiations are active" regarding the ongoing tariff issues between the two countries. However, this assertion has been met with skepticism from Chinese officials, who have denied that any productive negotiations are taking place.
Both the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have publicly refuted Trump’s claims, insisting that Washington is misleading the public about the status of discussions. Despite this, Trump has reiterated that negotiations are indeed continuing.
As both countries navigate the complexities of their trade relationship, it remains to be seen how these developments will unfold and whether constructive dialogue will emerge from the ongoing tensions.
