Pesident Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping has “more or less agreed” to speed up buying more US goods after a phone call both sides described as “positive, friendly and constructive.”
Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he urged Xi to increase purchases quickly and in larger volumes. “I think we’ll be pleasantly surprised by President Xi’s actions,” he said.
The call comes as China resumes buying US soybeans and pauses plans for additional rare earth export restrictions, signalling a cooling of tensions in the ongoing tariff dispute.
Progress on Trade
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said China has committed to purchasing 12 million metric tonnes of US soybeans this year, though current orders are still behind target at about two million tonnes.The conversation follows a recent meeting in South Korea, where Trump and Xi agreed on a basic framework for a future trade deal, which is still under negotiation.
Wider Issues Discussed
The leaders also discussed Taiwan, Ukraine and fentanyl. Xi reiterated China’s stance that Taiwan’s reunification is part of the post-war international order. The US continues its policy of strategic ambiguity on Taiwan while encouraging Taipei to strengthen defence spending. Trump said he accepted Xi’s invitation to visit Beijing in April and invited the Chinese leader for a state visit to the US later in the year. China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Washington initiated the call and said ongoing dialogue is vital for stable China-US relations.
