On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed uncertainty about whether President Trump had spoken with China’s President Xi Jinping, further questioning Trump’s recent claim that Xi had called him.
During an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” Bessent addressed the ongoing trade conflict between the U.S. and China that is affecting the global economy and financial markets. He tried to alleviate concerns over trade issues with China and stated that the administration was engaged in discussions with various countries, while recognizing that the tariffs placed on Chinese products were not a long-term solution.
However, it seems that dialogue with China has been quite limited.
When questioned by host Martha Raddatz about Trump’s statements regarding their conversation on trade, Bessent said, “I don’t know if President Trump has spoken with President Xi. I know they have a strong relationship and mutual respect.”
Typically, the Treasury secretary is the primary American representative for economic discussions between the U.S. and China, making Bessent’s uncertainty noteworthy.
In a recent interview with Time, Trump stated that Xi had called him, although he did not specify when, and claimed that his team was actively negotiating a trade deal with China.
When asked about this interview on Friday outside the White House, Trump reiterated that he had talked with Xi “many times,” but he did not clarify whether any calls occurred after the recent tariff implementation.
China has denied any ongoing discussions. Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, stated at a press conference on Friday, “China and the U.S. have not held consultations or negotiations regarding tariffs. The United States should not mislead the public.”
In Sunday’s interview, Bessent mentioned he had met with his Chinese counterparts last week during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings, but indicated that their discussions focused more on standard topics like financial stability and global economic warnings.
While speaking to reporters at those meetings, Bessent downplayed rumors that Trump was considering lowering tariffs unilaterally before talking with Xi. He stressed any effort to reduce trade tensions must involve both sides.
Bessent remarked, “I don’t think either side believes that the current tariff levels are viable.” He added, “This is akin to an embargo, and a breakdown in trade between the two nations is not in anyone’s interest.”
U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods have already begun to affect American importers. This week, the impact is expected to worsen as a loophole allowing retailers to send clothing and other items directly from China to U.S. consumers without tariffs will close on Friday.
