Donald Trump-Xi Jinping call likely to take place this week amid fresh trade tensions, White House confirms
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to speak this week amid renewed trade tensions. Trump has accused China of violating a temporary tariff agreement made in Geneva last month. While US officials claim Beijing is dragging its feet, China has firmly rejected the allegations, criticising the US for discriminatory trade practices. The situation has unsettled global markets. The expected high-level call is seen as a crucial moment in the strained economic relationship between the world's two biggest economies.
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Washington accuses Beijing of backtracking on Geneva agreement
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Trump alleges deal violation, China fires back
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Global markets react, stakes remain high
US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping are expected to speak this week, according to the White House . The announcement comes as trade tensions resurface, with Trump accusing China of breaking a recent tariff rollback agreement.Speaking to reporters on Monday outside the West Wing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, 'I can confirm that the two leaders will likely talk this week.' She added, 'And as always, when foreign leaders call, we will provide a readout of those calls.'The call, if it happens, will be their first confirmed contact since Trump returned to office over five months ago. Despite earlier claims from Trump that a conversation had taken place, Beijing has denied any recent communication.The US National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett had also signalled that a call was expected this week, though no date was given.The White House's push for dialogue follows a renewed escalation in US-China trade tensions. Last month, senior officials from both nations met in Geneva and agreed to suspend high tariffs for 90 days. The agreement was seen as a temporary truce in a prolonged trade dispute.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said after the talks, 'We made substantial progress between the United States and China in the very important trade talks.' He noted the role of the Swiss hosts and confirmed President Trump had been briefed.Ambassador Jamieson Greer, the US Trade Representative, said the agreement came together faster than expected. 'This was, as the Secretary pointed out, a very constructive two days,' Greer said. 'It's important to understand how quickly we were able to come to an agreement, which reflects that perhaps the differences were not so large as maybe thought.'Greer added that the deal was part of efforts to address a USD 1.2 trillion trade deficit. 'Just remember why we're here in the first place -- the United States has a massive USD 1.2 trillion trade deficit, so the President declared a national emergency and imposed tariffs,' he explained.Despite these early signs of progress, the situation changed sharply last week. Trump accused China of breaching the deal, without specifying how. Writing on Truth Social, he said:'Two weeks ago, China was in grave economic danger! The very high Tariffs I set made it virtually impossible for China to TRADE into the United States marketplace, which is, by far, the number one in the World... I made a FAST DEAL with China in order to save them from what I thought was going to be a very bad situation... The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY.'Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick echoed this view during an appearance on Fox News Sunday, claiming that China was 'slow-rolling' the agreement.Beijing, however, has dismissed these accusations. On Monday, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said the US had 'made bogus charges and unreasonably accused China of violating the consensus, which is seriously contrary to the facts.''China firmly rejects these unreasonable accusations,' the statement read. It added that China 'has been firm in safeguarding its rights and interests, and sincere in implementing the consensus.'The ministry also pointed to US restrictions on AI chip exports and visa bans for Chinese students as evidence of escalating 'discriminatory restrictive measures.'Markets responded swiftly to the rising uncertainty. Major indices slid on Monday as investors weighed the risk of a renewed tariff war between the two economic giants.Beijing's warning was clear. 'China will continue to resolutely take strong measures to uphold its legitimate rights and interests' if tensions continue.In a final appeal, China urged the US 'to meet China halfway, immediately correct its wrongful actions, and jointly uphold the consensus from the Geneva trade talks .'With both sides digging in and rhetoric intensifying, the expected Trump-Xi call could mark a critical moment—either to reset or deepen the divide.(With inputs from AFP, AP)
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