President Trump, who has been at odds with China over trade, mentioned on Friday that he had communicated with Xi Jinping, the president of China, despite Chinese officials stating that no negotiations were happening.
In a Tuesday interview with Time, Mr. Trump claimed that Mr. Xi had contacted him, although he didn’t specify when, and stated that his team was actively discussing a trade agreement with China. When asked about this outside the White House on Friday morning, the president affirmed that he had spoken with Xi “numerous times” but avoided confirming if any conversation occurred post-tariff implementation this month.
The president’s remarks seemed designed to give the impression of positive developments with China to calm the worried financial markets, which have dipped due to expectations of a standoff between the world’s largest economies. Since Mr. Trump took office on January 20, the S&P 500 index has decreased by 10 percent.
However, Chinese officials have dismissed Mr. Trump’s claims, repeatedly asserting this week that no active negotiations were taking place with the U.S.
“China and the U.S. have not engaged in discussions or negotiations regarding tariffs,” stated Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, during a Friday news conference. “The United States should not mislead the public.”
Chinese authorities have repeatedly emphasized that the U.S. should refrain from threats and pursue dialogue based on equality and mutual respect. On Thursday, He Yadong, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, mentioned there were “no ongoing economic or trade talks with the United States.”
“Any assertions about advancements in China-U.S. trade negotiations are baseless and unsupported by facts,” he added. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not provide a comment on Friday.
“As always stated, President Trump’s team is in contact with their Chinese counterparts,” remarked Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary. “The president remains hopeful about achieving a fair trade agreement with China.”
This month, Mr. Trump increased tariffs on Chinese imports to a minimum of 145 percent to compel China to enter trade discussions. In retaliation, Chinese officials responded by imposing their own tariffs on American goods and restricting the export of crucial minerals and magnets to the U.S., affecting various industries, including defense.
The Chinese government has also seemingly disregarded Mr. Trump’s suggestion that direct communication from Mr. Xi would be the best way to resolve the situation. With the two nations at a standstill, businesses reliant on sourcing from China—including hardware stores and toy manufacturers—are in disarray. Many have halted shipments due to the steep tariff rates.
Trump administration officials have acknowledged that the current trade approach with China is not tenable, with some considering reducing tariffs. However, the White House maintains that such measures will occur only if China reciprocates.
When asked during the Time interview if he would initiate a call to Mr. Xi if the Chinese leader didn’t reach out first, Mr. Trump replied no.
“We’re in discussions with China,” he stated. “We’re managing well with everyone.”
Additionally, Mr. Trump claimed, without evidence, that he had “completed 200 deals,” stating he would announce them in the next three to four weeks.
Earlier in April, Mr. Trump announced increased “reciprocal” tariffs on nearly 60 countries. The White House has mentioned receiving trade negotiation requests from various nations, and Peter Navarro, the White House trade adviser, has indicated the administration aims to finalize “90 deals in 90 days.”
Ms. Leavitt indicated this week that the Trump administration had received 18 written proposals and that the trade team was meeting with 34 countries within the week.
Nevertheless, numerous trade experts have expressed doubts, pointing out that previous U.S. trade agreements typically took over a year to negotiate.
The president told Time that trade agreements with countries like China had been inequitable and needed revision. “You can’t allow them to profit a trillion dollars at our expense,” he noted.
Mr. Trump mentioned he would consider requests from companies seeking exemption from tariffs. He also stated he had identified certain products suitable for import, saying, “There are some items I really prefer not to manufacture here.”
However, Mr. Trump insisted that tariffs were prompting companies to return operations to the U.S., asserting that he would view maintaining high tariffs a year from now as a “total victory” since the nation would be “profiting significantly.”
“This is a tremendous achievement,” he said. “You just aren’t aware of it yet.”
Publicly, Mr. Trump has claimed that his tariffs are effective, stating that countries are coming to him pleading for agreements, and that everything will eventually harmonize for the American populace.
Privately, however, the president’s team has been less optimistic. Major retailers have warned Mr. Trump that if his tariffs remain, they could face empty store shelves. His top economic advisors, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, expressed significant concern over the bond market’s instability and the risk of widespread financial panic, recommending that Mr. Trump impose a 90-day hold on his reciprocal tariffs two weeks ago.
Since then, his administration has been focused on finding ways to de-escalate the trade conflict with China without appearing to back down.
Mr. Trump and some of his advisors believed the Chinese economy would be particularly susceptible to U.S. tariffs, considering its reliance on exports to the U.S. However, they seem to have misjudged the degree of leverage the president has over Mr. Xi.
Chinese officials have made it clear through media statements that they disapprove of Mr. Trump’s aggressive tone, asserting that any negotiations should follow a formal process.
Beijing has also controlled and filtered information about the trade war in China, highlighting the country’s capability to endure challenges.
Meanwhile, Mr. Trump has experienced a decline in his poll numbers. His economic approval rating, once a strength, has now become a liability. Republican lawmakers worry about a significant loss in the 2026 midterms, adding to the pressure on Mr. Trump to strike deals that can restore economic confidence.
Eswar Prasad, a trade policy professor at Cornell University and former head of the China division at the International Monetary Fund, indicated that both nations appear to recognize the need for negotiations but prefer to initiate them on their own terms.
“The sentiment in Beijing seems to have changed recently, with policymakers adopting a more resolute stance, believing that they can withstand this situation,” he said. “Their perspective appears to be that the Trump administration will eventually reach out, especially as the U.S. economy suffers more in the escalating trade war.”
