WASHINGTON:U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to hold direct talks following a new round of retaliatory tariffs, U.S. officials said Tuesday.
China swiftly responded to Trump’s latest tariff measures by imposing levies on American energy, vehicles, and equipment, escalating the ongoing trade conflict between the world’s two largest economies.
Meanwhile, Trump temporarily suspended tariffs on Mexico and Canada for a month after both countries pledged to take stronger action against fentanyl trafficking and unauthorized migration into the U.S.
Though the timing of the Trump-Xi discussion remains uncertain, some sources suggested it could happen as early as Tuesday. Financial markets reacted cautiously, anticipating economic volatility in response to Trump’s tariff threats against major U.S. trading partners.
Peter Navarro, a key Trump trade advisor, told Politico, “Let’s see what happens with the call today.” When asked if Trump might reconsider the tariffs on China, he added, “It’s up to the boss. I never get ahead of the boss, that’s why I’m sitting here.”
Trump has introduced an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports, further compounding existing trade restrictions. In contrast, Mexico and Canada previously faced 25% tariffs before receiving a temporary reprieve. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump intended to speak with Xi but provided no update on the exact timing.
“He is not going to allow China to continue sourcing and distributing deadly fentanyl into our country. That was the reason for this tariff,” Leavitt stated outside the White House.
In retaliation, China announced a 15% tariff on U.S. coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG), while crude oil, agricultural machinery, and large vehicles—including pickup trucks—would face a 10% duty. Additionally, Beijing signaled plans to investigate U.S. tech giant Google and the parent company of fashion brands Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein.
China justified its countermeasures as a response to Washington’s “unilateral tariff hikes” and pledged to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization, denouncing the U.S. levies as “malicious.”
Further escalating tensions, Beijing introduced new export restrictions on critical rare metals and chemicals—such as tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, and molybdenum—essential for various industrial applications.
While China remains a significant market for U.S. energy exports, importing over $7 billion worth of oil, coal, and LNG last year, its trade with Russia far surpasses that figure, totaling $94 billion in energy imports.
Trump has consistently used tariffs as a central strategy in his foreign policy, even jokingly calling them the “most beautiful” word in the dictionary. He argues that these measures are necessary to penalize countries that fail to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, into the United States.
