Trump says he intends to talk to China's president in the next 24 hours

US President Donald Trump expects to talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the next 24 hours. This was announced by White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt on February 3.

"As the President just recently announced in the Oval Office, he has a plan to speak with Chairman Xi within the next 24 hours," Reuters quoted the spokeswoman as saying.

Livitt explained to reporters that the call comes shortly after Trump threatened Beijing with further duty increases and expressed outrage over fentanyl-related chemicals coming from the country, as well as China's involvement in the construction of the Panama Canal.

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Earlier on February 2, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in the United States said the unilateral U.S. duties were in flagrant violation of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. According to the Chinese embassy spokesman, the U.S. side should "objectively and rationally consider and resolve the fentanyl issue" on its own.

Earlier in the day, the Xinhua news agency, citing the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, reported on Beijing's intention to file a lawsuit in the WTO against the background of the sanctions imposed. In addition, the PRC plans to introduce countermeasures in response to the duties.

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on the introduction of trade tariffs for goods from Canada, China and Mexico on February 1. Thus, duties on imports from Mexico and Canada will amount to 25%, and on Canadian energy resources and imports from China - 10%.