The developments came as China has struck a publicly defiant tone and Trump sowed confusion by claiming that he had spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which Beijing denied.

Trump pushed back on China after Beijing's foreign ministry called the administration's assertions that tariff talks are happening "fake news."

President Trump’s apparent softening on tariffs has strengthened Chinese officials’ resolve that he will eventually cave if they wait him out.

President Donald Trump makes no secret of his love of tariffs. He heralds them as a way of bringing in revenue, striking back at countries he sees as taking advantage of the U.S. in trade, and as a cudgel to push countries to do what he wants.

Time magazine today published a wide-ranging, news-making and sometimes head-scratching interview it conducted this week with President Donald Trump to mark his first 100 days in office. Trump spent much of the interview defending his economic policies and tariffs.

The White House is weighing exemptions that could spare automakers some of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, according to multiple reports. The Financial Times reported Wednesday that Trump is planning to exempt auto parts from tariffs on imports from China that were applied to counter fentanyl production,