All news

Conversation between Trump, Xi to be held on Tuesday — US official

Peter Navarro avoided giving a direct answer to a question as to whether the Trump-Xi conversation could lead to a reprieve for Beijing similar to the month-long delay for imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods
US President Donald Trump Alex Wong/ Getty Images
US President Donald Trump
© Alex Wong/ Getty Images

WASHINGTON, February 4. /TASS/. A phone conversation between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will be held on Tuesday, the US leader’s senior counselor for trade and manufacturing Peter Navarro said in an open online interview with Politico.

When asked as to how China’s retaliatory tariffs on oil, agricultural equipment, coal and LNG might threaten US consumers and companies, Navarro told Politico: "Let's see what happens with the call today."

He avoided giving a direct answer to a question as to whether the Trump-Xi conversation could lead to a reprieve for Beijing similar to the month-long delay for imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods. "It's up to the boss. I never get ahead of the boss," the US official emphasized.

Replying to a question as to whether the US administration is still considering imposing tariffs of 60% on Chinese goods, Navarro stressed that Washington will act "in a measured way, and it's going to be done in a way that will benefit the American people."

On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump’s conversation with Xi would take place in the next 48 hours.

On February 1, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada (10% on Canadian energy), and a 10% additional tariff on China. Later, Trump agreed to hold off imposing tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada for 30 days.