President Trump announces new trade talks with China after a 1.5-hour phone call with President Xi Jinping, amidst allegations of deal violations from both sides.
At a Glance
- Trump and Xi had a 1.5-hour call discussing trade deals, with Trump receiving an invitation to visit China
- U.S. and China previously agreed to reduce tariffs by 115% while maintaining a 10% tariff during a 90-day suspension period
- Teams from both countries will meet soon, led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer
- Trump has accused China of violating the recent trade agreement, while China disputes this claim and points to U.S. actions
- The agreement aims to address the $295.4 billion U.S. goods trade deficit with China from 2024
Trump and Xi’s Phone Call Signals Renewed Trade Negotiations
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in a lengthy 1.5-hour phone conversation focused exclusively on trade relations between the world’s two largest economies. The call comes amid growing tensions following allegations from both sides of violations to a recently established trade agreement. Trump announced that Xi extended an invitation for the president and first lady to visit China, though no date has been confirmed. The conversation notably avoided discussion of other major global issues such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict or Iran.
Trump detailed plans for upcoming meetings between delegations from both countries, with the U.S. team to include Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer. The location for these talks remains undetermined, but Trump promised to inform media of the scheduling details once finalized. This development marks a significant effort to address ongoing trade disputes that have characterized U.S.-China relations throughout Trump’s presidency.
Recent Trade Agreement Details and Allegations of Violations
The phone call follows a historic trade agreement reached between the U.S. and China in May 2025. Under this deal, both countries agreed to lower tariffs by 115% while maintaining an additional 10% tariff during a 90-day suspension period. China committed to removing retaliatory tariffs and suspending non-tariff countermeasures against the U.S. announced since April 2025. Meanwhile, the U.S. agreed to remove additional tariffs imposed on China in April 2025 but retained duties that were in place prior to that date.
“I made a FAST DEAL with China in order to save them from what I thought was going to be a very bad situation, and I didn’t want to see that happen. Because of this deal, everything quickly stabilized and China got back to business as usual. Everybody was happy! That is the good news!!!” – Donald Trump
Despite initial optimism, Trump later accused China of violating the agreement, though specific details of the alleged violations weren’t disclosed. China countered these claims by pointing to U.S. actions, including increased export restrictions and attempts to ban international students from Harvard, as breaches of the deal. These mutual accusations threaten to derail the progress made in stabilizing trade relations and addressing the substantial $295.4 billion U.S. goods trade deficit with China recorded in 2024.
Framework for Future Collaboration and Economic Growth
The May agreement established a mechanism for ongoing trade and economic discussions between the two nations, creating a framework for addressing disputes and fostering collaboration. Beyond purely economic concerns, the agreement also includes provisions for cooperation on combating the flow of fentanyl and other precursors to North America, demonstrating the multifaceted nature of U.S.-China relations. This comprehensive approach aims to create more stable and predictable trade conditions that benefit both economies.
“Today, the United States issued the first joint statement on trade in many years with China after successful negotiations over the weekend in Geneva, Switzerland” – President Donald J. Trump
The upcoming meetings between U.S. and Chinese officials represent an opportunity to address the alleged violations and reaffirm commitments to the existing agreement. With the 90-day suspension period still in effect, both sides have a limited window to resolve differences before potentially reverting to higher tariff levels. The Trump administration has characterized its approach as taking a “tough, uncompromising stance on China to protect American interests and stop unfair trade practices,” positioning the recent agreement as a significant win for American workers and businesses.
