U.S. President Donald Trump recently had a positive first call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping since taking office again. The conversation, which lasted an hour and a half, focused on trade and the ongoing issues surrounding tariffs and rare earth minerals. Both leaders agreed that their teams would meet soon to discuss these critical topics.
Trump shared details about the call on his social media platform. He mentioned that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer would represent the U.S. in the upcoming negotiations. During the call, Xi extended an invitation for Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to visit China, and Trump reciprocated by inviting Xi to the U.S.
The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed that Trump initiated the call. Xi emphasized the need for both countries to work together and avoid disruptions in their relationship. He also requested that the U.S. remove negative measures against China. Trump, on the other hand, expressed a desire for Chinese students to continue studying in America, despite his administration’s plans to revoke some of their visas.
The backdrop of this conversation is the stalled trade negotiations between the U.S. and China, which hit a standstill after a May 12 agreement to reduce tariffs. The U.S. accuses China of not exporting essential minerals, while China is unhappy with U.S. restrictions on advanced chip sales and student visas.
Trump has recently lowered tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30% for a 90-day period to facilitate discussions. China also reduced its tariffs on U.S. goods from 125% to 10%. These changes have caused volatility in global markets and could affect trade between the two nations.
Despite the optimism expressed in the call, underlying tensions remain. Trump wants to reduce America’s dependence on Chinese manufacturing, while China aims to advance its technologies in areas like electric vehicles and artificial intelligence. The trade imbalance between the nations was reported at $295 billion for 2024, highlighting the economic stakes involved.
This call marks the first direct communication between Trump and Xi since January, when they discussed trade and China’s role in preventing fentanyl from entering the U.S. While Trump has previously shown optimism about reaching a major deal, he has recently voiced frustration over China’s compliance with past agreements.
As both countries prepare for further discussions, the world watches closely to see how this relationship will evolve and what it means for global trade dynamics.