Former U.S. Ambassador to China and former Commerce Secretary under President Obama, Gary Locke, railed against President Donald Trump’s comments, which claim the United States has a trade agreement with China.

China and the U.S. have agreed to more tariff talks amid a trade standoff and concerns over rare earths, President Donald Trump said Thursday after a call with China's leader. Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke on Thursday at a time when stalled tariff negotiations between their two countries have roiled global trade.

Trump framed the new restrictions, which primarily target African and Asian countries, as necessary to fortify national security and combat terrorism.

It was the first travel ban issued by Trump in his second presidential term. Trump ordered three travel bans against predominantly Muslim nations during his first administration. Those were contested in federal district and appeals courts.

President Trump on Wednesday signed a travel ban on 12 countries, primarily in Africa and the Middle East, reviving an effort from his first term to prevent large numbers of immigrants and visitors from entering the United States.