President Donald Trump announced that he had a "very productive" two-hour phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which they made significant progress on a long-stalled agreement to allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. by divesting its Chinese-owned assets.
Trump described the deal as "approved" and "well on its way," though no formal signing has occurred yet, and details remain undisclosed.
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| Trump, Xi |
Trump added that he plans to visit China in early 2026, with Xi reciprocating in the U.S. at a later date.
The TikTok deal stems from national security concerns raised during Trump's first term, when the app—owned by Beijing-based ByteDance—was flagged for potential data-sharing risks with the Chinese government. A U.S. ban was repeatedly delayed, with the latest extension to December 16, 2025.
Other Topics Covered in the Call:
- Trade: Discussions aimed at easing tariffs, which have reached century-high levels under Trump's policies. A temporary tariff truce from May 2025 expires in November, with the U.S. imposing 30% duties on Chinese imports and China retaliating with 10% on U.S. goods. China remains the U.S.'s third-largest trading partner despite a $300+ billion bilateral deficit. Xi urged avoiding "unilateral trade restrictions," per Chinese state media Xinhua.
- Illicit Drugs (Fentanyl): The call addressed China's role in precursor chemical exports fueling the U.S. opioid crisis, which killed over 100,000 Americans last year. Trump has linked this to broader trade leverage.
- Russia's War in Ukraine: Trump claimed both leaders want to "bring the war to an end," potentially involving China's influence over Russia (a key oil buyer). However, Chinese reports framed it vaguely as "global stability" without specifics on Ukraine, leading to skepticism from observers who note Beijing's tacit support for Moscow.