WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first phone call following escalating tensions over mutual tariff hikes, signaling a possible thaw in trade relations between the two economic giants.
Trump shared details of the conversation via his Truth Social account, describing the approximately 90-minute call as “very productive and highly beneficial for both nations.” He emphasized that the primary focus of the discussion was trade and customs tariffs.
“Our teams will soon meet at a yet-to-be-determined location. The U.S. will be represented by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer,” Trump announced.
Both leaders extended invitations for official state visits during the call. “President Xi invited me and the First Lady to visit China, and I extended the same invitation to him. It’s something we’re both looking forward to as presidents of two great nations,” Trump said. He also clarified that topics like Russia-Ukraine or Iran were not discussed during the call.
Xi Jinping Urges the U.S. to Lift Harmful Measures
In a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Xi stressed that dialogue and cooperation are the only viable path forward for U.S.-China relations. He called for both nations to uphold the consensus reached during recent Geneva talks and emphasized mutual respect in future negotiations.
“China has honored the Geneva agreement. The U.S. should recognize the progress made and withdraw the harmful measures it has imposed on China,” Xi said, referring to ongoing tariff and trade restrictions.
He underlined the need for increased diplomatic, economic, trade, military, and security engagement between the two countries, warning against misunderstandings and advocating for expanded cooperation.
Addressing the Taiwan issue, Xi advised Washington to handle it with caution, warning against allowing a small number of separatists to push the U.S.-China relationship toward conflict.
Both sides reportedly agreed to continue implementing the Geneva agreement through further delegation-level meetings.
Trump: “We’re in a Very Good Place with China”
Speaking to the press alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House, Trump reaffirmed the strength of the conversation with Xi and expressed confidence in the ongoing trade talks.
“Two of the world’s greatest leaders just had a very good conversation and cleared up a lot of complexity,” Trump said.
He added that top U.S. officials will meet with senior Chinese officials to advance the trade dialogue and said, “We’re in a very good place regarding China and the trade deal.”
Regarding mutual invitations, Trump confirmed that he plans to visit China “at some point.”
Trump Compares Russia-Ukraine War to ‘Children Fighting’
During the same press event, Trump discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, comparing it to a playground fight.
“I told Putin yesterday that he must stop. He said, ‘We had no other choice but to attack Ukraine.’ I told him, ‘Don’t do it.’”
Trump warned of severe sanctions if Russia crosses a line and emphasized that both Russia and Ukraine could face consequences if no ceasefire is reached.
“Tango takes two. We’ll be tough, whether it’s Russia or any other country,” he said.
He recalled mediating peace between India and Pakistan and expressed a wish to resolve the current conflict similarly.
Tense Exchange Between Trump and German Chancellor Merz on June 6 Remarks
During their joint appearance, Chancellor Merz reminded Trump that June 6 marks the anniversary of D-Day, when Allied forces helped liberate Europe during WWII. Trump’s offhand comment — “Not a great day for you in the long run” — drew a sharp response from Merz:
“Mr. President, it was the day my country was liberated from the Nazis.”
The moment quickly went viral on social media.
Tariff Dispute: A Timeline of Escalation
Tensions between Washington and Beijing have been rising since April 2, when Trump imposed additional tariffs on China and other trade partners. In response, China enacted its own tariffs, prompting the U.S. to raise duties on Chinese goods up to 145%, with China retaliating at a 125% rate.
High-level U.S. and Chinese officials met in Geneva on May 10–11, where they agreed to temporarily reduce tariffs for 90 days. As of May 14, U.S. tariffs were lowered from 145% to 30%, while China’s tariffs dropped from 125% to 10%.
However, on May 30, Trump accused China of violating most parts of the Geneva agreement and expressed hopes to resolve the issue in a direct discussion with Xi.
The trade row has been further complicated by U.S. restrictions on the export of AI chips and design software to China, as well as the revocation of visas for Chinese students with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or sensitive research areas.
Source: Anadolu Ajansı/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök