US President Donald Trump hinted on Monday that Chinese President Xi Jinping may visit the United States ‘’ in the not too distant future’’ as tensions between the two economic superpowers continue to be high.
Trump made this statement during a board meeting at the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Centre in Washington but did not share further details regarding the meeting. The White House has yet to comment on the chances of Xi’s visit, while the Chinese embassy in Washington has also not given any clarification, according to a Reuters report.
China-US trade dispute
After taking office, Trump implemented 20% tariffs on all Chinese imports, blaming Beijing for not being able to stop the flow of chemicals that are utilised in producing illegal fentanyl which is also the major reason for drug overdose deaths in the US. He also stated that tariffs are needed to ‘’rebalance’’ trade partnerships and create revenue for the US government.
Meanwhile, China has firmly opposed the tariffs and asserted that it has taken serious action to handle narcotics trafficking. In a counter-attack, Beijing has also announced a limited set of retaliatory tariffs. Despite the ongoing tension, Trump has recently expressed hopefulness about his personal relationship with Xi.
Major issues between US-China ties
While Trump has shown confidence in future bilateral talks, crucial issues like tariffs, economic policies, and Taiwan has not shown progress. The US president has continuously refused the concern that tariffs could negatively affect economic growth. He also defended his decision that tariffs are mandatory for safeguarding American interests. ‘’He will be coming, in the not so distant future,’’ Trump mentioned, as quoted by Reuters.
Despite the reassurances, none of the sides has shared details regarding the framework or the timeline of the discussions. Meanwhile, investor concerns about prolonged trade conflict continue to increase, as analysts have warned of potential economic slowdown and inflation pressures.
As diplomatic uncertainty continues to persist, Xi’s potential visit could be a platform for further dialogue.
(With inputs from Reuters)