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Trump Says He Discussed Trade, Rare Earths in Call With Xi

President Trump spoke Thursday with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, calling it a productive conversation with both sides agreeing to meet shortly as they seek to stabilize trade negotiations that have broken down in recent weeks.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President Trump spoke for the first time since Trump took office. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President Trump spoke for the first time since Trump took office. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

WASHINGTON—President Trump spoke Thursday with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, calling it a productive conversation with both sides agreeing to meet shortly as they seek to stabilize trade negotiations that have broken down in recent weeks.

Trump suggested one sticking point—the export of rare-earth minerals, which are critical to the U.S. automotive and other industries—had been addressed during the call, though details were unclear Thursday morning.

He also said Xi invited him to visit China and that he reciprocated the offer. The conversation was focused almost entirely on trade, Trump said, and they didn’t discuss the war in Ukraine and other global hot spots.

“The call lasted approximately one and a half hours, and resulted in a very positive conclusion for both Countries,” Trump wrote on social media.

The upcoming talks will include Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Trump said.

“During the conversation, President Xi graciously invited the First Lady and me to visit China, and I reciprocated. As Presidents of two Great Nations, this is something that we both look forward to doing,” Trump wrote.

According to a brief statement from China’s official Xinhua News Agency, the call took place at Trump’s request. It was the first time they spoke since Trump took office in January.

Washington and Beijing agreed in mid-May to temporarily lower tit-for-tat tariffs after talks in Geneva. But the Trump administration accused China of violating the 90-day truce, citing a slow-walking of exports of rare-earth minerals, which are critical for the automobile and other industries.

China, in turn, alleged that Washington introduced multiple “discriminatory and restrictive measures.” It cited new U.S. export-control guidelines for artificial-intelligence chips and the revocation of visas for Chinese students.

The phone call took place just hours before German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to visit the White House. He is expected to try to persuade Trump to drop tariffs on Europe.

Until now, Xi had resisted getting on the phone with Trump as the Chinese leader wanted the White House to first dial down its pressure on Beijing, according to people close to China’s decision-making.

However, faced with mounting economic pressure, Xi also has to prevent the Chinese economy from falling into an abyss. Managing relations with Washington is key to that.

In an initial sign that Beijing was engaged with Washington in arranging the call, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with David Perdue, the U.S. ambassador to Beijing, on Tuesday. Wang urged the U.S. to “create the necessary conditions” for bilateral relations to get back on the right track.

Then on Thursday, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng also met a U.S. delegation for a “Track II” dialogue, or discussions among nongovernmental groups on both sides, saying that bilateral relations are now at “a crucial juncture.”

Trump and Xi last spoke on Jan. 17, days before Trump was sworn in for a second term, when they discussed trade, fentanyl, TikTok and other subjects.

“It is my expectation that we will solve many problems together, and starting immediately,” Trump wrote on social media after the call.

Write to Alex Leary at alex.leary@wsj.com, Lingling Wei at Lingling.Wei@wsj.com and Alexander Ward at alex.ward@wsj.com

 

Author: Alex Leary , Lingling Wei and Alexander Ward

Source: WSJ:

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