China has firmly denied US President Donald Trump’s assertion that Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently called him, emphasizing that no discussions are currently taking place between the two nations regarding their ongoing tariff dispute.
At a press briefing on Monday, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that, to their knowledge, there had been no recent phone communication between the two leaders. The spokesperson reiterated that China and the United States are not engaged in any negotiations concerning the tariff issue.
Despite Trump’s more conciliatory remarks last week — suggesting that US tariffs on Chinese goods would be reduced and vowing a friendly approach in future talks — China has maintained a tough public stance. Trump had claimed in an interview that Xi had reached out to him, describing it as a positive gesture and emphasizing his long-standing relationship with the Chinese leader. However, he declined to provide specifics about the alleged conversation when later questioned, merely stating that he had spoken with Xi multiple times.
Public records indicate that the last official phone call between Trump and Xi occurred on January 17, shortly before Trump began his second term in office.
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Since then, Trump has repeatedly mentioned that his administration is engaged in discussions with Chinese officials to broker a trade deal. Each time, China has issued clear denials, warning against misleading the public regarding the status of trade negotiations.
While Trump has expressed a willingness to ease the trade conflict, China has insisted that all US tariffs must be fully lifted. Since returning to office, Trump has imposed tariffs of 145% on Chinese goods, with exceptions made for electronics such as smartphones and computers. In response, China raised tariffs on US imports to 125%, though it has selectively reduced duties on certain American-made semiconductors to cushion the impact on its technology sector.
