The New York Times(NYT) reported on April 25 that U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims of ongoing negotiations with China and phone calls from President Xi Jinping are likely false.
The NYT suggested that Trump appears to be bluffing about progress in China talks to calm financial markets rattled by tariff threats.
Trump has consistently maintained that negotiations with China are ongoing, particularly asserting that Xi had reached out to him.
In a recent Time Magazine interview, Trump claimed that president Xi called him without specifying when.
On April 25, just before departing for the Pope’s funeral in Rome, Trump reiterated to White House reporters that he had spoken with Xi multiple times. However, he dodged questions about any calls since imposing new tariffs on April 2.
In stark contrast, China has steadfastly denied any ongoing negotiations with the U.S.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated during a regular press briefing on April 25 that China and the U.S. have not held any discussions or negotiations regarding tariffs, and warned that the U.S. should not mislead the public.
Earlier, the Ministry of Commerce of China spokesperson He Yadong also confirmed that there have been no economic and trade negotiations between China and the U.S., and dismissed claims of progress in China-U.S. relations as baseless rumors.
The NYT analysis suggests that Trump’s claims of negotiations with China, including alleged conversations with Xi, appear to be a strategy to soothe jittery financial markets.
The NYT also highlighted that since Trump took office, the S&P 500, a key indicator of U.S. stock market performance, has plummeted by over 10%.
