Media reports: Trump and Xi Jinping held a discussion on tariffs, but there is no official confirmation yet
Uncertainty and sensational headlines from global media have emerged with reports of a purported phone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and China's leader Xi Jinping. This news has generated significant interest and speculation, as the White House has not officially confirmed the occurrence of such a dialogue. Instead, sources from unofficial channels suggest that the conversation took place and marked a historic event—the first after a lengthy pause in high-level contacts between Washington and Beijing. According to information conveyed by international media, including CNN, the details of the phone call were learned from internal sources and their reports. These claims are also confirmed by controlled Chinese state media, which creates an impression of the importance of this communication within the context of trade disputes and geopolitical intrigues. However, there has been no official confirmation from the White House to date, leaving the true content and format of the conversation open to question. This is the first high-level contact between the U.S. and China after an extended silence, occurring amid tensions between the two most influential economic powers in the world. Prior to this, Trump and Xi Jinping exchanged views on January 17, at the end of the pre-election campaign and a few days before Trump's inauguration, which created uncertainty about the future trajectory of their relations. Sources close to Chinese officials claim that preparations for this conversation were prolonged, as Beijing's leaders repeatedly expressed doubts and concerns regarding the potential dialogue. Fears were driven by unpredictability in Trump's behavior and his eccentric style, which could turn delicate diplomatic procedures into an unpredictable game. At the same time, in Washington, there was a desire to initiate such a conversation, as this was the very contact they sought, and they actively exerted efforts to facilitate its realization. It should be noted that in Beijing, they have responded very carefully to the news of a possible phone exchange, taking into account diplomatic experiences related to previous scandals and conflicts. According to sources, Chinese officials discussed incidents that have caused tensions—such as the conflict in the Oval Office between Trump and President Vladimir Zelensky, as well as the humiliating reception of South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa during his recent visit to the U.S. Beijing diplomats and analysts likely sought to prevent similar escalations during private leader conversations. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that last Friday, Trump openly accused China of violating the agreement on tariff reductions signed in early May as part of bilateral trade negotiations. According to this agreement, the U.S. was to reduce tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China committed to decrease tariffs on American imports from 125% to 10%. The parties also agreed to establish a mechanism for ongoing negotiations, aimed at stabilizing trade relations and easing global market tensions. Thus, the actual details of this phone conversation remain uncertain for now, and official confirmation from the White House is still awaited. Meanwhile, the global community is eagerly watching for any information regarding the development of bilateral relations, as their character and dynamics could significantly impact the global economy and security. The prolonged period of silence between Washington and Beijing may ultimately give way to new diplomatic processes or even greater tensions, risking an escalation of the trade confrontation between the two countries.