US President Donald Trump has hailed a recent phone call with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, citing progress on several key issues, including a potential deal for the sale of social media platform TikTok. The two leaders spoke by telephone for the second time since Trump’s return to the White House, amid ongoing efforts to ease tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The US has been seeking to take TikTok out of Chinese hands, citing national security concerns. Trump claimed that Xi “approved” a deal during the phone call, but later cautioned that it still needs to be signed, describing it as potentially a “formality.” However, China did not confirm any agreement, instead stating that it respects the will of enterprises and welcomes them to conduct business negotiations based on market rules.
The call also touched on the war in Ukraine, with Trump saying that Xi promised to work with the US to bring an end to the conflict. Additionally, Trump announced plans to meet Xi on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea next month and to travel to China next year. Xi is also expected to visit the US at an unspecified time.
China offered a more cautious assessment of the talks, with a statement describing the call as “frank and in-depth.” The statement also emphasized China’s hope that the US will provide an open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies investing in the US.
The potential sale of TikTok has been a major point of contention between the US and China. Last year, the US Congress passed a law requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US operations or face a ban, citing national security concerns. US policymakers have warned that China could use TikTok to mine data from Americans or exert influence on what they see on social media.
The situation remains complex, with many details still unclear, including who would control the algorithm powering TikTok. According to Wendy Cutler, a former US trade official, Beijing is displaying a willingness to play hardball and is seeking concessions from Washington. The developments come amid a backdrop of heightened tensions between the US and China, which have dramatically hiked tariffs against each other in recent months. A deal to reduce levies was reached earlier this year, but it is set to expire in November.
