Trump and Xi Hold Tense Call Amid Trade Dispute and Taiwan Tensions
U.S.-China leaders discuss tariffs and Taiwan as talks stall; Xi urges “course correction,” Trump signals difficulty reaching deal.
Watan-U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone on Thursday, as trade negotiations between the two powers remain stalled and continue to impact global commerce.
According to China’s Xinhua News Agency, the call was initiated by President Trump and followed his recent comment that reaching a deal with Xi is difficult.
During the conversation, Xi stressed the need to “correct the course” of bilateral relations, according to Xinhua.
Xi reportedly told Trump:
“Steering the large ship of China-U.S. relations back on course requires firm hands on the wheel and a clear direction, especially by removing all forms of interference—even destruction.”
After the call, Trump stated that both countries had agreed to resume further discussions on tariffs, amid escalating concerns over the trade standoff and rare earth mineral supplies.
On Wednesday, Trump posted on Truth Social:“I like President Xi. I’ve always liked him and always will. But he’s very tough, and it’s extremely difficult to strike a deal with him!!!”
This latest conversation comes as both economic giants accuse each other of breaching the May trade deal, which had temporarily paused their tariff war.
Following his return to the White House in January, Trump reimposed high tariffs on a broad range of imports—especially from China—and hinted last Friday at further trade tensions with Beijing.
The U.S. accuses China of violating the terms of their May 12 agreement signed after talks in Switzerland. That deal included a temporary suspension of mutual tariff hikes, which had reached 125% on American goods and 145% on Chinese exports. Both sides also agreed to temporary reductions to 30% and 10%, with a commitment to continue negotiating toward a broader agreement.
Taiwan Issue Resurfaces During Call
The two leaders also discussed the Taiwan issue, which remains a major geopolitical flashpoint.
According to Chinese state media, Xi warned Trump to handle Taiwan “with caution” to avoid confrontation.
Xi reportedly said:“The United States must handle the Taiwan issue carefully to avoid being dragged by a small group of separatists into a dangerous situation of conflict and confrontation.”
This warning comes amid growing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and as the U.S. continues to maintain unofficial support for Taiwan, angering Beijing.
The phone call reflects deepening strain in U.S.-China relations on both economic and geopolitical fronts, as both sides prepare for potentially prolonged tensions.
