In private discussions hours before China announced new retaliatory tariffs, the Trump administration warned Chinese officials against such a move, according to a source familiar with the discussions.

The Chinese were also told – once again – that Chinese President Xi Jinping should request a call with US President Donald Trump.

Instead, US officials woke up to news of increased Chinese tariffs and no request for a leader level call. Xi also made comments that only dug him in further.

xi

“For over 70 years, China’s development has relied on self-reliance and hard work — never on handouts from others, and it is not afraid of any unjust suppression,” Xi said according to state broadcaster CCTV during his meeting with the Spanish prime minister.

  • miz [any, any]@hexbear.net
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    8 days ago

    Two senior White House officials tell CNN that the US will not reach out to China first. Trump has told his team that China must be the first to make the move, as the White House believes it is Beijing that has chosen to retaliate and further escalate the trade war.

    lol this is the dumbest middle school drama bullshit

    That stance has been conveyed to Beijing for roughly two months, with Trump’s team clearly telling Chinese officials that Xi should request a call with Trump. But Beijing has repeatedly refused to arrange a leader-level phone call, according to three sources familiar with the official communications.

    One hurdle, Trump’s team believes, is Xi’s desire not to be seen as weak by making the first move and approaching the US for talks.

    projection

  • Staines [they/them]@hexbear.net
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    8 days ago

    Allow the Americans to only talk with one mouth. More mouths just mean more ways to lie.

    If the US has something to say, they should say it publicly. No more sweets lies in back channels while serving circus to the public.

    Let them just be the circus and treat them as such.

  • Vampire [any]@hexbear.net
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    8 days ago

    China just objectively isn’t dependent on Marvelstani buyers.

    Buffalolandian negotiators must know this.

  • 7bicycles [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    8 days ago

    Imagine being a high ranking chinese diplomat and the fucking americans keep e-mailing you for your leader to request a phone call with theirs. do you even reply anymore after 2 months or just ignore this?

    • SexUnderSocialism [she/her]@hexbear.netOP
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      I’ve emailed President Xi COUNTLESS times - very respectful, very classy messages - to open a dialogue. What do I get in return? A REPLY with a picture of a pig POOPING ON ITS OWN BALLS!!! Total disrespect. Is this how they treat world leaders now? NOT NICE! trump-anguish

  • TheModerateTankie [any]@hexbear.net
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    8 days ago

    So we slapped them with ridiculous sanctions tariffs and are dropping hints that we are preparing for war, all while asking them to call? Trump acted in a similar way in his first term, and Biden didn’t undo anything he did AFAIK, on top of slapping their cars with a 100% tariff. And we’re starting off with Trump doing schoolyard bully negotiating tactics again…

    I think China is sick of our bullshit.

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    8 days ago

    Honestly, though…what is there to talk about? Trump’s rationale for doing all this makes no logical sense. What good is it to negotiate with an idiot that doesn’t even understand basic economics?

    Just slap more tariffs on him and wait for him to either grow the fuck up, or back the fuck down. Either way, a “conversation” is not required.

    • Lamprey [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      8 days ago

      The call is supposed to be Xi making a deal, even a worse deal than existed before. Trump just wants to come out ahead in optics

      China is not playing with that so here we are. Trump will have a temper tantrum and things will cost more.

    • merthyr1831@lemmy.ml
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      8 days ago

      Probably want Xi to call and pretend to beg for tariff cuts so Trump can get an easy exit route without looking bad.

    • merthyr1831@lemmy.ml
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      8 days ago

      I think their plan is to either let Trump admit he fucked it up and come crawling back or for the next president to do it. They’re not bothering to back down now lol

      • FactuallyUnscrupulou [he/him]@hexbear.net
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        8 days ago

        They have literally zero reason to make any effort at diplomacy. The rest of the would will gladly trade with them. If your business is full of happy customers why would you need to worry about a bratty Veruca Salt making demands?

      • DamarcusArt@lemmygrad.ml
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        Allows them to be flexible. If the world or “the world” get collective amnesia about America again and act like Trump is just some unique aberration, they get to work with that, if the rest of the world wakes up to the fact that the US is dangerous, it allows them to work with that instead.

  • BodyBySisyphus [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    8 days ago

    I watched the press conference this morning and whatsherface just repeated “don’t retaliate and you’ll be rewarded” and “you punch us we punch back harder.” Why would anyone want to negotiate with the US unless they had to?

    • rando895@lemmygrad.ml
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      8 days ago

      I’m pretty sure thats the only reason anyone ever did. The US used military and economic power to ensure folks negotiated.