Beijing pledges support for economy, rejects U.S. tariff claims

As Trump talks deals, Beijing insists the U.S. stop "creating confusion"

Welcome back to What’s Happening in China, your weekly China brief.

TIME: Will you call President Xi if he doesn’t call you?
Trump: No.
TIME: You won’t?
Trump: Nope.
TIME: Has he called you yet?
Trump: Yep.
TIME: When did he call you?
Trump: He's called. And I don't think that's a sign of weakness on his behalf.

This is an excerpt of Donald Trump’s ‘100 Days’ interview with TIME. In what has become a routine resembling a Marx Brothers or Mel Brooks production, the same day the interview was published, answering a question from Reuters, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guo Jiakun, said that “China and the U.S. are not having any consultation or negotiation on tariffs. The U.S. should stop creating confusion.”

It’s become hard to track the weekly barrage of statements and counter-statements from both sides.

While Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent this week suggested an easing of tensions with the PRC, on Thursday, He Yadong, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson, repeat…