Key insights
- Trump stated he asked China's Xi not to supply weapons to Iran, and Xi responded that China was not doing so. Trump also downplayed the impact of geopolitical tensions on his upcoming meeting with Xi. The potential for tariffs on countries supplying Iran introduces a slight negative risk to global trade and market sentiment.
WASHINGTON, April 15 (Reuters) - Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping in a letter not to give Iran weapons, and Xi responded that China was not supplying Tehran, the U.S. president told Fox Business Network in an interview that aired on Wednesday.
Trump, in the interview taped on Tuesday, did not say when the letters were exchanged. Last week, he threatened countries with an immediate 50% tariff if they supplied Iran with weapons.
"I wrote him a letter asking him not to do that, and he wrote me a letter saying that, essentially, he's not doing that," Trump told FBN's "Mornings with Maria" program.
He also said he did not expect shifts in the global oil market over the war on Iran and changes in Venezuela to impact the dynamics of his planned meeting with Xi next month. "He's somebody that needs oil. We don't," Trump said.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Andrew Heavens)