U.S., Chines Presidents Hold Phone Talks on TikTok, Trade & U.S.-China Relations

Reuters

Tik Tok logo is displayed on the smartphone while standing on the U.S. flag in this illustration pic

U.S. Presidents Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by telephone on Friday, Chinese state media and a U.S. official confirmed, in discussions aimed at securing an agreement to keep the video-sharing app TikTok operational in the United States and easing tensions between the two global powers.

According to Reuters, the call, the leaders’ first known conversation in three months, began at 8 a.m. Eastern Time (1200 GMT) and focused primarily on a potential TikTok deal and broader trade issues, according to a U.S. official. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV provided no further details, and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The discussions coincide with preparations for a potential in-person summit between President Xi and President Trump during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea from 30 October to 1 November, Reuters has reported.

The TikTok negotiations aim to finalise a framework deal agreed earlier this week, which would allow the U.S. assets of the Chinese-owned app to be transferred to American owners while maintaining access to ByteDance’s algorithms. Congress had mandated that TikTok be shut down for U.S. users by January 2025 unless the ownership issue was resolved.

President Trump has delayed enforcement of the law, citing concerns that a ban could anger TikTok’s substantial user base and disrupt political communications. “I like TikTok; it helped get me elected,” President Trump said during a press conference on Thursday. “TikTok has tremendous value. The United States has that value in its hand because we’re the ones that have to approve it.”

Key details of the proposed deal remain unclear, including the precise ownership structure, the extent of Chinese control, and whether Congress will approve the arrangement. Lawmakers have expressed concern that Beijing could use the app for espionage or influence operations, although China denies any national security threat.

Beyond TikTok, the leaders also discussed trade relations, including competition over semiconductors and advanced technologies, the purchase of U.S.-produced soybeans and Boeing aircraft, and U.S. demands for China to curb exports of fentanyl-related chemicals, a major contributor to overdoses in the United States.

Since retaking office in January, President Trump has sharply increased tariffs on Chinese imports, prompting reciprocal measures from Beijing. While some limited agreements since May have paused this tariff escalation, tensions remain over rare-earth magnets, semiconductor design software, and other high-tech goods.

Tariffs remain a cornerstone of President Trump’s economic strategy, aimed at protecting U.S. manufacturing, reducing federal deficits, addressing trade imbalances, and leveraging foreign compliance with Washington’s policies. Despite these measures, China remains the United States’ third-largest trading partner and the source of its largest bilateral goods deficit.

Regional security concerns, including Taiwan and the South China Sea, also remain sensitive flashpoints, competing for attention alongside ongoing crises in Ukraine and Gaza. 

In a sign of goodwill ahead of the call, China allowed Wells Fargo banker Chenyue Mao to return to the United States after months of being prevented from travelling.



PUKMEDIA