Washington /Beijing, June 7: U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone this week in a rare direct exchange as trade negotiations between the world’s two largest economies remain deadlocked following renewed tariff hikes.
The conversation, confirmed by both sides on Thursday, comes weeks after a May 12 agreement to reduce mutual tariffs failed to revive stalled talks. The diplomatic contact also follows Trump’s imposition of sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs on Chinese goods.
Trump described Xi as “very tough and extremely hard to make a deal with” in a post on his social media platform late Wednesday, though he added, “I like President Xi of China, always have, and always will.”
U.S.-China trade ties have remained tense amid a wide-ranging dispute that includes access to advanced technology, restrictions on student visas, and the export of critical minerals. The U.S. has accused Beijing of withholding key raw materials, while China has protested Washington’s tightening curbs on high-tech chip exports and academic access.
As a temporary measure to restart dialogue, the Trump administration has lowered tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 30% for 90 days. In response, China has reduced its levies on U.S. goods from 125% to 10%.
Despite these concessions, talks have not resumed in earnest. The ongoing deadlock has rattled global markets, with analysts warning of broader implications for global supply chains and trade stability.
Trump’s renewed emphasis on tough trade postures comes as the U.S. heads toward a heated election cycle, with economic nationalism again emerging as a central theme of his campaign. The White House has not released details of the leaders’ phone call, and China’s foreign ministry has yet to comment publicly. The temporary tariff reductions expire in August, leaving limited time for both sides to reach a broader agreement.
