US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping may engage in discussions later this week, as indicated by a senior White House official speaking to CNBC on Monday under the condition of anonymity. Although a phone call today is unlikely, he noted that it could happen “very soon.”
This anticipated dialogue arises amid escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing, which pose a risk to the recent agreement established just weeks ago.
The US-China trade relationship, deemed crucial for both nations, reached a critical point in April when Trump implemented widespread tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods, leading to immediate retaliatory actions from Beijing. The two nations temporarily agreed to a 90-day pause on these measures following negotiations in Geneva in mid-May.
However, this tenuous ceasefire appears to be unraveling. The US accuses China of intentionally delaying exports of essential raw materials, while Beijing criticizes Washington for its warnings against using Chinese semiconductors. A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce labeled the US approach as “unilaterally provoking new economic and trade tensions,” emphasizing the growing uncertainty in bilateral relations.
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