US-China Trade Tensions Escalate Further Amid Disputed Claims by Trump and Xi Jinping

Published on 4.26.25

  The ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China have been a major point of contention in international relations. Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized that trade wars harm multilateral trading systems and global economic order, highlighting the need for cooperation and dialogue. Despite this, US President Donald Trump has claimed to have spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping "numerous times" on the issue, but China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disputed this, stating that there are no consultations or negotiations on tariffs. This discrepancy suggests a lack of progress in trade talks between the two countries. In an effort to de-escalate tensions, China has exempted some US imports from its steep tariffs, including pharmaceuticals. However, the US has imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese imports, while China retaliated with 125% tariffs on US products. This reciprocal trade embargo has been described by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as a "reciprocal trade embargo". The lack of progress in trade talks between the US and China has led to a list of 131 product categories under consideration for exemptions being circulated among businesses and trade groups, including vaccines, chemicals, and jet engines.

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