U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke Friday in a call aimed at finalizing an agreement that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States.
The conversation, which began around 8 a.m. Washington time, was confirmed by a White House official and China’s Xinhua News Agency. Analysts say the talks could signal whether the two leaders are preparing for a face-to-face summit to reset relations strained by an escalating trade war.
This is the second call between Trump and Xi since the U.S. president returned to office and imposed sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods, moves that triggered retaliatory measures from Beijing. Trump has suggested he is open to trade arrangements, with TikTok emerging as a key bargaining point.
The U.S. has demanded that TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divest its controlling stake under a law addressing national security and data privacy concerns. Trump has repeatedly extended the deadline for compliance, calling the app “tremendously valuable” and insisting U.S. approval is crucial to its future.
Chinese officials said earlier this week that both sides had reached consensus on intellectual property and data security arrangements. U.S. lawmakers, however, remain skeptical, with Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) insisting TikTok’s algorithm and data must be “truly in American hands.”
Beyond TikTok, broader trade issues remain unresolved. Washington and Beijing have paused new tariffs and eased some export controls, but disputes continue over technology restrictions, China’s purchase of U.S. farm goods, and fentanyl precursors.
American farmers are closely watching the talks. U.S. agricultural exports to China dropped 53% between January and July compared with the same period last year, with sorghum sales down 97%. “There’s frustration growing at the farmer level,” said Josh Gackle, chair of the American Soybean Association.
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