This contradicts U.S. President Donald Trump 's claim that his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, reached out to him in a phone call. Meanwhile, state-affiliated media has alleged it is Washington that has quietly made the first move.

China’s economy showed its first big signs of damage from the trade war, as steep U.S. tariffs pummeled export orders and production at the country’s factories. A gauge of new export orders fell in April to its lowest reading since Covid-19 was ravaging the country in 2022,