Trump claims China's Xi called him on tariffs

Washington: US President Donald Trump has insisted Chinese leader Xi Jinping called him despite Beijing denials of any contact between the two countri...

Washington: US President Donald Trump has insisted Chinese leader Xi Jinping called him despite Beijing denials of any contact between the two countries over their bitter trade dispute.

In an interview conducted on April 22 with TIME Magazine and published Friday, the US president did not say when the call took place or specify what was discussed.

"He's called," Trump said. "And I don't think that's a sign of weakness on his behalf."

Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman He Yadong told reporters Thursday that "I would like to emphasize that there are currently no economic and trade negotiations between China and the United States."

The world's two biggest economies are locked in an escalating tit-for-tat trade battle triggered by Trump's levies on Chinese goods, which have reached 145 percent on many products.