'They reached out to us many times': Donald Trump says US in talks with China on tariffs

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday the United States and China were talking on tariffs. He expressed confidence that the countries, the world's two largest economies, could reach a deal to end what has been a bitter trade war.

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"Yeah, we're talking to China. I would say they have reached out a number of times," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, news agency AFP reported.

The US leader also revealed the two sides had been in talks since he upped tariffs on China to a whopping 145 per cent, after Beijing retaliated to his sweeping "Liberation Day" worldwide levies, which he announced on April 2.

Also Read | Explainer: Why Donald Trump has slapped up to 245% tariff on China

However, Trump was cagey when asked if he had spoken directly with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, despite having dropped several hints in the past that he has.

"I've never said whether or not they've happened. It's just not appropriate," he stated .

However, on being pressed by reporters if Xi had reached out to him, Trump replied: "You'd think it was pretty obvious that he has, but we will talk about that soon."

Also Read | US-China tariff war: Why Donald Trump thinks Xi Jinping will blink first

Trump's administration is locked in a war of sky-high reciprocal tariffs with superpower rival China, leaving world markets unnerved.

"I think we're going to make a very good deal with China," he said at the White House earlier, as he hosted Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni for talks aimed at ending US tariffs on the European Union.