According to a report by the Wall Street Journal on the 10th, discussions have begun regarding the possibility of a U.S.-China summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping this coming June.
Sources familiar with the matter have indicated that the talks are in the early stages. These discussions have commenced amidst escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China since President Trump’s inauguration. From the U.S. perspective, the aim is to build a negotiating leverage with China. The newspaper suggests that the potential summit discussions signal both parties’ willingness to manage their relationship despite ongoing trade conflicts.
The fact that both President Trump and President Xi were born in June could provide a reason for the summit. President Trump was born on June 14, 1946, and President Xi on June 15, 1953.
However, as the discussions are still in the initial phase, it remains uncertain whether the summit will actually take place in June.
President Trump has accused China of being responsible for the influx of fentanyl and other drugs into the U.S. and imposed an additional 10% tariff last month, followed by another 10% tariff this month. As a result, the average tariff on Chinese imports has increased from about 14.5% last year to 35%.
In response to the increased tariffs, China has retaliated with measures similar to those of last month. With President Trump announcing on April 2nd the introduction of reciprocal tariffs, there is potential for further escalation of trade tensions between the two countries.