China Opposes Trump's Statement

On April 28, 2025, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that President Xi Jinping has not spoken on the phone with President Donald Trump recently, completely denying Trump's claims in an interview with Time last week. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized: “As far as I know, there have been no recent calls between the two leaders. I would like to reiterate that China and the United States are not engaged in consultations or negotiations regarding tariffs.”

This statement was issued in the context of the two largest economies in the world being caught in a fierce tariff war. Trump has imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese goods since returning to the White House but exempted electronic products such as smartphones and computers from tariffs. In response, China raised tariffs to 125% on U.S. imports, although it has quietly lowered tariffs on some U.S. semiconductors to protect its technology sector, according to Reuters.

In the interview with Time on April 25, 2025, Trump asserted that he had spoken with Xi and did not perceive it as a sign of weakness from China. He said: “He called. I don’t think that’s a sign of weakness.” However, Trump did not provide details about the content or timing of the call, and when pressed by CNN, he only vaguely responded: “I have spoken with him many times.”

According to public records, the last time the two leaders spoke on the phone was on January 17, 2025, before Trump's second inauguration. Since then, China has consistently denied Trump's claims about trade negotiations, demanding that the U.S. lift all tariffs.