Trump and Xi are anticipated to engage in dialogue this coming week, as reported by the White House.
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping to Chat the Week After Trade Spat
It looks like President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will have a chinwag soon. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on June 2 that the leaders will likely chat this week, amid a recent spat over tariffs and trade disputes.
Leavitt is the third high-ranking Trump aide to predict an immediate conversation between the pair, following disagreements over May's tariff agreement in Geneva and larger trade concerns.
As for the exact date of the conversation, the details remain unclear. A spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry said they had "no information to provide" on June 3.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted at the imminent chat on CBS' Face The Nation on June 1. Bessent noted that Trump and Xi would chat "very soon" to settle trade matters, such as disputes over critical minerals and China's mining restrictions.
Trump confirmed on May 30 that he was looking forward to a chat with Xi. However, China stated in April that the two leaders had no recent conversations.
On May 31, the US Trade Representative's office decided to extend certain solar manufacturing equipment and other goods from existing tariffs on Chinese goods until August 31. This move aims to allow negotiations with Beijing to continue while offering a three-month extension.
Bessent led negotiations with China in Geneva in May, resulting in a brief truce in the trade war between the world's two largest economies. However, progress since then has been on the slow side, according to Bessent, who spoke to Fox News last week.
The US-China agreement in May to dial down triple-digit tariffs for 90 days sparked a significant relief rally in global stocks. But the underlying reasons for Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods—mostly US complaints about China's state-dominated, export-driven economic model—remain unaddressed, leaving those issues to future talks.
A US trade court ruled on May 28 that Trump overstepped his authority in imposing tariffs on imports from China and other countries under an emergency powers act. But less than 24 hours later, a federal appeals court reinstated the tariffs, placing a temporary hold on the trade court ruling to consider the government's appeal.
Enrichment Insights:
- The recent trade discussions between the US and China follow a joint statement issued after their economic and trade meeting in Geneva in May.
- Key actions include the US modifying tariffs on certain Chinese imports, China suspending certain tariffs on US goods for an initial 90-day period, and ongoing conversations between high-ranking officials from both nations.
- These commitments aim to establish a stable channel for addressing trade issues and de-escalate tensions.
- The ongoing trade conversations between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping may delve into topics beyond just tariffs and trade disputes, given China's war-and-conflicts-related policies and legislations.
- Amidst the general-news cycle of trade spats and car-accidents, discussions on migration, particularly from countries plagued by conflicts, could also surface during the leaders' chat.
- In the realm of crime-and-justice, prospects for international cooperation might become evident in their conversation, especially considering China's efforts to combat transnational crimes.
- On a brighter note, the leaders might discuss emergencies such as fires, presenting an opportunity for both nations to collaborate on emergency response and crisis prevention strategies.
