The president of the United States, donald trumpdenied this Friday that he had spoken about tariffs with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinpingduring his trip to Beijing, despite the trade war between both powers.
The president of the United States, donald trumpdenied this Friday that he had spoken about tariffs with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinpingduring his trip to Beijing, despite the trade war between both powers.
“We’re not talking about tariffs. I mean, they’re paying tariffs. They’re paying substantial tariffs, but we’re not talking about that,” Trump responded to reporters aboard Air Force One.
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According to the president, this issue “was not mentioned” despite the fact that it has marked the relationship between both superpowers since Trump returned to power in 2025 and imposed a battery of tariffs on China and many countries around the world.
The Beijing summit between the presidents was preceded on Wednesday by a meeting in Seoul between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng for trade talks.
The last meeting between Trump and Xi, held in South Korea in October last year, served to ease tensions between both powers, with the reduction of some tariffs and the lifting of some restrictions on rare earths and agricultural products.
China’s President Xi Jinping (right) and US President Donald Trump visit the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on May 14, 2026. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP).
/ BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI
A US Supreme Court ruling last February invalidating part of Trump’s tariffs opened a new phase in the trade war.
The United States Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, assured this Friday that Washington hopes to close an agreement with China for agricultural purchases worth “tens of billions of dollars” annually over the next three years, in addition to advances in sales of Boeing airplanes and soybeans.
