President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE's trade adviser, Peter Navarro, reportedly got in a shouting match with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Steven Terner MnuchinOn The Money: Powell, Mnuchin stress limits of emergency loans | House seeks to salvage vote on spending bill | Economists tell lawmakers: Kill the virus to heal the economy Economists spanning spectrum say recovery depends on containing virus Powell, Mnuchin stress limits of current emergency lending programs MORE during recent talks in China.

CNN, citing two sources, reports that the two men, who have frequently clashed over economic policy and, in particular, Navarro's protectionist trade views, feuded publicly outside the government building in Beijing where the trade talks were taking place.

ADVERTISEMENT

The argument, which reached levels of "shouting and cursing," according to the news network, was out of view of Chinese officials.

It was reportedly centered over Mnuchin's tendency to sideline other U.S. officials during in the talks. Mnuchin's frequent one-on-one negotiations with China's Vice Premier Liu He were a particular frustration to Navarro, according to the CNN sources.

Axios first reported the argument.

Liu is expected to visit Washington for trade talks with the Trump administration, during which Navarro is expected to attend but not participate.

U.S.-Chinese trade relations have been on rocky ground in recent months, with both countries issuing tariffs as the Trump administration seeks to crack down on intellectual property theft.

Navarro, known as a protectionist trade hawk, has criticized Chinese trade policies in the past, even writing a book titled "Death by China."

Trump surprised many in Washington over the weekend when he tweeted in support of Chinese telecom company ZTE, saying that he was working with Chinese President Xi Jinping to get ZTE “back into business, fast.”