Trump Claims Conversations on Tariffs as China Pushes Back

Tensions between the United States and China have escalated due to recent tariff hikes, with both countries imposing steep duties on each other's goods and expressing skepticism about the progress of trade talks. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping had called him regarding tariff negotiations, a claim Beijing has disputed, urging Washington not to mislead the public about the state of discussions. Chinese officials, including President Xi and top economic leaders, have strongly condemned trade wars, warning of their negative impact on global economic stability and multilateral trading systems. Despite the harsh rhetoric, China has signaled openness to dialogue, emphasizing that the door for talks remains open, but criticized what it sees as 'extreme pressure' tactics by the U.S. Meanwhile, the effects of the tariffs are being felt in the U.S., with concerns over product shortages and significant challenges for American farmers and exporters. Calls for dialogue and multilateral cooperation have also come from other countries like Switzerland, which faces collateral impacts from the U.S.-China dispute.