Donald Trump said tariffs were not discussed during his summit with Xi Jinping despite hopes of extending the trade truce.
aboard Air Force One: US President Donald Trump on Friday said he did not raise the issue of tariffs during his historic summit with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Returning to Washington after striking a “great trade deal” with Beijing, Trump said on the tariffs: “We didn’t discuss them… It didn’t come up.”
The pair were expected to discuss extending the one-year tariff truce reached during their last meeting in South Korea in October.
The ceasefire put an end to an intense trade war that had seen tariffs on many goods exceed 100 percent.
Circumstances have changed since then.
The deal saw Washington retain some tariffs over allegations of China’s alleged role and unfair practices in global fentanyl supply chains.
But in February the US Supreme Court struck down many of Trump’s duties, including those imposed on drug trafficking.
The White House immediately moved to impose 10 percent global tariffs, using temporary powers and launching an investigation that could lead to more permanent tariffs.
The 10 percent global tariff has also been challenged in US courts.
Trump arrived in Beijing earlier this week to seal deals in areas including agriculture, aviation and artificial intelligence.
After the end of the first day, Trump said Xi had agreed to help open the Strait of Hormuz as well as buy Boeing jets and American oil and soybeans.
But there has been no formal announcement, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry did not confirm or deny Trump’s statements when asked Friday afternoon.
