Trump, Xi to discuss TikTok deal and US-China relations
U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday to advance a deal allowing TikTok to continue operating in the United States. The call may also signal whether the two leaders could meet in person to finalize broader trade agreements and clarify the direction of U.S.-China relations.
This would be their second call since Trump returned to the White House and resumed high tariffs on China, which have sparked reciprocal trade restrictions. Trump has signaled willingness to negotiate, particularly regarding TikTok, whose U.S. operations face a potential ban unless its Chinese parent, ByteDance, sells its controlling stake. The leaders previously spoke in June to ease tensions over China’s export limits on rare earth elements critical to electronics and military hardware.
Trump told reporters Thursday, “I’m speaking with President Xi, as you know, on Friday, having to do with TikTok and also trade. And we’re very close to deals on all of it.” He described his relationship with China as “very good” while commenting on global tensions, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, without confirming whether additional tariffs on Beijing were under consideration.
Chinese officials did not confirm the call, but a spokesperson noted that “heads-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance for China-U.S. relations.” Analysts expect the discussion to be constructive, with the focus on preparing a potential leadership summit and finalizing trade terms.
The TikTok deal follows a U.S.-China trade meeting in Madrid earlier this week, where Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the two sides agreed on a framework regarding TikTok’s ownership. Trump, who has cited the app as influential in his political success, has repeatedly extended deadlines for ByteDance to spin off the U.S. operations, which is required to comply with a law addressing data privacy and national security concerns. The agreement would ensure that U.S. user data and TikTok’s algorithm are managed domestically.
Beyond TikTok, U.S.-China trade talks have addressed tariffs, export controls, and agricultural purchases, though many issues remain unresolved. Trump is expected to emphasize U.S. leverage in negotiations, while Xi may highlight China’s economic influence and push for easing U.S. tariffs and sanctions. The ongoing trade tensions have severely affected American farmers, with exports to China falling sharply in 2025, including a 97% drop in U.S. sorghum sales. Agricultural groups are closely watching the outcome of the Friday call, hoping it will restore some market access.
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