Trump and Xi to Likely Speak This Week, Says White House

President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping may speak this week to address trade disagreements. White House Press Secretary indicated this development amid ongoing tensions related to tariffs. Legal challenges to tariffs also complicate matters, as the trade issues remain unresolved after a recent temporary agreement.

In news from Washington, President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to communicate this week, as suggested by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday. This comes shortly after Trump accused China of failing to uphold an agreement regarding tariff reductions and trade restrictions.

Leavitt noted that she is not the only official predicting an upcoming call between Trump and Xi, marking a significant moment as they work to resolve disagreements stemming from last month’s tariff negotiations in Geneva.

The timing of their conversation is still unclear. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that the dialogue would happen “very soon,” targeting contentious trade issues, including disputes over critical minerals and China’s restrictions on their exports.

On Friday, Trump expressed confidence in speaking with Xi. However, Chinese officials indicated in April that there had not been any recent talks between the two leaders. Meanwhile, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office recently announced an extension of certain exclusions for solar manufacturing equipment and other products from existing tariffs until August 31, while negotiations with China persist.

Bessent, who led last month’s discussions in Geneva, characterized the outcome of those talks as a temporary pause in the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China, albeit slow progress was reported since then. He spoke about this with Fox News last week.

The 90-day agreement to reduce certain tariffs generated a significant rally in global stock markets, yet it has failed to resolve fundamental complaints about China’s trade practices, particularly its state-controlled, export-driven model. These more complex issues have been left for future dialogues.

In legal developments, a U.S. trade court recently ruled that Trump overstepped his bounds by imposing many tariffs on Chinese imports through an emergency powers act. However, a federal appeals court reinstated those tariffs just a day later, pausing the trade court’s decision as it considers the government’s appeal. The appeals court has set deadlines for responses from both plaintiffs and the administration in early June.

In summary, a call between President Trump and President Xi Jinping is anticipated within the week as trade tensions heighten. Key issues like tariffs and export restrictions remain unresolved following a temporary agreement in Geneva. Legal matters surrounding the tariffs continue to evolve, complicating efforts to find a long-term solution. Stakeholders are watching closely as the situation develops.

Original Source: www.yahoo.com