Despite repeated private warnings, Chinese President Xi Jinping has not requested a call with Trump. “China wants to make a deal. They just don’t know how quite to go about it,” Trump said Wednesday.
TRUMP WARNED XI PRIVATELY | CHINA IGNORED IT AND SLAPPED NEW TARIFFS INSTEAD
In behind-the-scenes talks, the Trump administration warned Beijing not to retaliate, and urged Xi to request a direct call with Trump.
But U.S. officials woke up to a defiant message: no call… https://t.co/pHVyzyUpUe pic.twitter.com/SDMErzMwka
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 11, 2025
President Donald Trump granted a 90-day tariff pause to several countries this week—excluding China, which instead faced a sharp escalation. The US hiked tariffs to 145% on all Chinese imports, prompting Beijing to retaliate with 125% tariffs on US goods.
Despite repeated private warnings, Chinese President Xi Jinping has not requested a call with Trump. “China wants to make a deal. They just don’t know how quite to go about it,” Trump said Wednesday.
Talks have stalled for months, with neither side willing to blink. US officials insist China must make the first move, while Beijing demands “mutual respect and equality.”
Backchannel efforts, including overtures via business leaders like Elon Musk, have yielded no results.
“Xi Jinping is in a much stronger political position,” said Danny Russel, a former US official. As non-tariff retaliation looms, experts warn the economic showdown could spiral into “mutually assured destruction.”
Both powers are bracing for a prolonged trade conflict with global consequences.
