In private discussions hours before China announced new retaliatory tariffs, the Trump administration warned Chinese officials against such a move, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
The Chinese were also told – once again – that Chinese President Xi Jinping should request a call with US President Donald Trump.
Instead, US officials woke up to news of increased Chinese tariffs and no request for a leader level call. Xi also made comments that only dug him in further.
“For over 70 years, China’s development has relied on self-reliance and hard work — never on handouts from others, and it is not afraid of any unjust suppression,” Xi said according to state broadcaster CCTV during his meeting with the Spanish prime minister.
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The call is supposed to be Xi making a deal, even a worse deal than existed before. Trump just wants to come out ahead in optics
China is not playing with that so here we are. Trump will have a temper tantrum and things will cost more.
Probably want Xi to call and pretend to beg for tariff cuts so Trump can get an easy exit route without looking bad.