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Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping “calls” him despite denials from Beijing that he is talking about to ease trade tensions between the two biggest economies in the world.
The US President also claimed that he had sealed “200 transactions” on trade, despite no such agreement being announced.
“You have to understand, I deal with all the companies, very friendly countries. We meet with China. We’re doing well with everyone. But in the end, I did all the deal,” Trump said. Interview Time Magazine was released on Friday.
Trump said of the Chinese president:
However, several people familiar with the situation in Washington and Beijing said Xi wasn’t calling Trump. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not comment.
The White House did not respond to requests for comment on Trump’s claims.
In his time interview, the US president also claimed that “100%” had made 200 trade deals with countries around the world. However, he also suggested that they could be announced next month. “By the way, it ended for the next three or four weeks,” he said.
When he left Washington on Friday morning to attend Pope Francis’ funeral, Trump was asked to clarify whether he spoke to XI as the US caused a trade war that imposed up to 145% on Chinese imports and rattled financial markets.
“I don’t want to comment on that, but I’ve told him many times,” Trump said.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has made multiple claims about US-China contacts that were later raised questionable.
Trump said last month that XI was planning to visit the US and “is coming in the not-so-distant future.” However, those familiar with the issue said there was no conversation between Washington and Beijing about the summit.
Despite these not being done yet, Trump has also mentioned trade talks between the countries, according to people in Washington and Beijing.
“China and the US have not discussed or negotiated the #Tariffs. The US should stop the outbreak of chaos,” China’s Foreign Ministry posted on X on Friday.
Chinese officials also emphasize that future trade negotiations must be bound at work level and that both countries must reach some sort of interim agreement before Beijing agrees to set up a call or talks with XI.
When Xi asked Trump claimed what he had told him in the conversation, the US president mentioned the power he had as a gatekeeper of the US consumer market. “It’s a huge, beautiful store and everyone wants to go shopping there. And on behalf of the Americans, I own the store. I set the price.
