U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone on Thursday to address escalating trade disputes, China’s embassy in Washington confirmed.
The call, which China said was requested by Trump, comes as a fragile 90-day tariff rollback agreement faces renewed pressure from both sides.
Details of the conversation were not disclosed, and the White House has yet to comment. The call is the first confirmed high-level contact between the two leaders since the temporary trade truce was agreed on May 12.
The 90-day deal reduced a series of triple-digit tariffs, sparking optimism in financial markets. However, tensions have since resurfaced, particularly over China’s suspension of critical mineral exports and U.S. restrictions on semiconductor technologies and design tools.
Trump has accused Beijing of breaching the agreement, citing issues including export controls and political influence campaigns. In response, the U.S. administration doubled tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum to 50%. China denied violating the truce and warned of possible countermeasures.
“The year-end holiday shopping season and global supply chains are at stake,” noted one trade analyst, as investors closely watch for signs of a durable resolution.
The phone call follows China’s traditional reluctance to arrange direct talks between top leaders without first resolving working-level disagreements. Still, Trump has emphasized his belief in leader-to-leader diplomacy to break deadlocks. While he has praised Xi’s leadership style, the broader U.S. stance identifies China as its top geopolitical and economic rival.
Trump and Xi last met in person at the G20 summit in Osaka in 2019. Xi’s most recent visit to the U.S. was in November 2023, during a summit with then-President Joe Biden, which resulted in agreements on military communication and fentanyl cooperation.
With key issues unresolved—including trade balances, Taiwan, and the role of state subsidies—Thursday’s call marks a high-stakes attempt to stabilize relations. Whether the contact leads to renewed negotiations or deepens the divide remains to be seen.
Up to 30 tonnes of food will be delivered to Iran amidst ongoing hostilities with U.S. and Israel, following a phone converstation between the ...
Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran e...
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israe...
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientif...
A senior delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has been holding meetings with Georgian government offici...
Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has threatened to block the strategic waterway, raising fears of disruption to global oil shipments and energy markets.
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientific data, national hydrometeorological services in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan say, adding there is no threat to the region.
A senior delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has been holding meetings with Georgian government officials, opposition leaders and security authorities this week, as international observers attempt to gauge the country’s political climate following last year’s contentious elections.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has threatened to block the strategic waterway, raising fears of disruption to global oil shipments and energy markets.
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientific data, national hydrometeorological services in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan say, adding there is no threat to the region.
A senior delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has been holding meetings with Georgian government officials, opposition leaders and security authorities this week, as international observers attempt to gauge the country’s political climate following last year’s contentious elections.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has told Masoud Pezeshkian, his Iranian counterpart, that violations of Turkish airspace by Iran could not be justified “for any reason whatsoever.”
The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has approved a new programme aimed at developing educational courses and training sessions for young parents.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment