Trump insists trade talks ongoing as China denies any negotiations

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that trade talks with China are underway, pushing back against Beijing’s claim that no consultations have occurred.

“They had a meeting this morning,” Trump told reporters. “It doesn’t matter who ‘they’ is.”

The remark came hours after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters that “no consultations or negotiations on tariffs” had taken place, labelling U.S. reports as “false news.”

A White House official later clarified that low-level in-person meetings and a phone call between U.S. and Chinese representatives had occurred earlier this week.

The conflicting statements highlight the communication gap between Washington and Beijing, fuelling uncertainty in global markets already rattled by the escalating trade war.

American firms face rising import costs, while Chinese exporters are under pressure from declining U.S. demand.

Earlier this month, the U.S. imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese imports. Beijing retaliated with its own duties and restrictions on critical mineral exports.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday that tariffs must come down before formal negotiations can begin, calling for a de-escalation between the world’s two largest economies.

“Excessively high tariffs must be addressed before a reset is possible,” Bessent said.

As tensions simmer, both sides appear to be testing signals—without confirming if talks are truly moving forward.

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