Trump Claims Xi Jinping Reached Out Amid Trade Dispute

President Donald Trump has publicly claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping called him to discuss trade negotiations, despite repeated denials from Beijing that any such talks or contact have taken place. Trump stated in a Time magazine interview that he expects to finalize a series of trade agreements with China and other countries within the next few weeks, framing the US as being in control of setting trade terms and tariffs. The US has imposed tariffs as high as 145% on some Chinese imports, with China retaliating in kind, while Trump argues that maintaining high tariffs would represent a 'total victory' for the US. Chinese officials have characterized reports of trade talks as misleading or 'fake news,' maintaining their stance that no negotiations are currently underway. Despite the public standoff, some reports suggest Beijing may be preparing concessions, such as exempting certain products from tariffs, though these details remain unconfirmed. The ongoing dispute has heightened tensions between the world's two largest economies and raised concerns over potential global economic repercussions.