Trump Confirms No Talks with Xi as U.S.-China Trade Dialogue Continues

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he has no immediate plans to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping, though trade discussions between U.S. and Chinese officials are ongoing. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump confirmed that while he isn’t in direct contact with Xi, American and Chinese negotiators are engaged on various trade matters.

Trump stated the U.S. is pursuing trade deals with multiple countries, including China, and hinted that some agreements may be finalized this week. However, he noted that not all discussions are expected to lead to deals, and suggested he may impose new tariffs on certain nations instead.

The President’s remarks follow conflicting statements last month, when he claimed active talks with China were underway—an assertion denied by Beijing. Yet, China’s commerce ministry recently acknowledged that Washington had reached out to initiate dialogue, signaling a potential thaw in strained relations.

Trump also appeared to ease his tone in recent interviews, stating that Beijing is now seeking a resolution, likely due to mounting pressure from his aggressive trade measures. In April, the U.S. imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese imports, prompting retaliatory tariffs of around 125% from China. The tit-for-tat tariffs have disrupted global supply chains and raised concerns about economic slowdown, as seen in recent U.S. and Chinese data.

Trump’s China-focused tariffs are part of a broader series of reciprocal levies on key trading partners. While he granted a 90-day extension for other tariffs, analysts believe the move was prompted by a sharp drop in Treasury prices—signaling investor anxiety over the U.S. economic outlook.

The evolving U.S.-China trade landscape continues to draw global attention as both economies grapple with the fallout of the escalating tariff war.