Amid escalating tensions in the ongoing trade dispute, the anticipated conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping was scrapped on Tuesday. This decision came in the wake of China’s swift retaliatory move to impose tariffs on American imports, just moments after Trump’s administration announced fresh levies aimed at the Asian giant.
President Trump, addressing the situation late on Tuesday, expressed a lack of urgency in speaking with Xi, despite a phone call being highly expected as a means to navigate the intensifying trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Trump characterized the newly imposed tariffs on China as merely an “opening salvo” and indicated a readiness to intensify measures if an agreement isn’t reached, asserting that the tariffs could become “very, very substantial.”
Despite early assurances from Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, suggesting potential discussions regarding a pause in tariff escalation, the scheduled call was abruptly abandoned. Navarro, when queried about the possibility of a détente similar to the relief previously extended to trade partners like Mexico and Canada, noted, “It’s up to the boss. I never get ahead of the boss.”
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt informed reporters that a conversation between Trump and Xi is yet to be rescheduled, but it needs to be.
