Again, no – China and the US are not in tariff talks, Chinese embassy says as Trump repeats claims

China has once again rejected suggestions that it is in talks with the United States over tariffs, following repeated claims by US President Donald Trump that he has spoken with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on the issue.

In a statement on social media on Saturday, the Chinese embassy in Washington described assertions that talks had occurred as “purely misleading”.

“China and the US have not conducted consultations or negotiations on tariffs, let alone reached any agreement,” the embassy said.

Trump claimed in an interview with Time magazine published on Friday and again before attending Pope Francis’ funeral that he had spoken with Xi details would be disclosed “at an appropriate time”.