On Friday, October 3, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced what he called a "very productive" phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking a pivotal moment in the ever-evolving relationship between Washington and Beijing. The call, which began around 8 a.m. Washington time, was closely watched by policymakers and markets alike, as it touched on a slew of high-stakes issues: trade, fentanyl, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and—perhaps most contentiously—the fate of TikTok in the United States.
Trump, never one to shy away from touting his achievements, took to Truth Social to sum up the exchange: "I just completed a very productive call with President Xi of China. We made progress on many very important issues including Trade, Fentanyl, the need to bring the War between Russia and Ukraine to an end, and the approval of the TikTok Deal. I also agreed with President Xi that we would meet at the APEC Summit in South Korea, that I would go to China in the early part of next year, and that President Xi would, likewise, come to the United States at an appropriate time. The call was a very good one, we will be speaking again by phone, appreciate the TikTok approval, and both look forward to meeting at APEC!"
The Chinese side echoed the positive tone. According to Xinhua, Xi Jinping emphasized that "China-U.S. relations are very important" and urged Washington to "refrain from imposing unilateral trade restrictions." Xi clarified Beijing’s stance on TikTok, stating the government "respects the wishes of firms" and hopes the U.S. will provide an "open and fair environment for Chinese companies." The Chinese leader described the talks as "positive" and "constructive," signaling a potential thaw after years of tit-for-tat measures and mutual suspicion.
This phone call marked Trump’s second direct engagement with Xi since returning to the White House. It comes at a time when both countries are seeking to stabilize an often rocky relationship defined by trade wars, competing interests in global hotspots, and the ever-present specter of technological rivalry.
One of the most closely watched topics was the future of TikTok, the wildly popular video-sharing platform owned by China’s ByteDance. Trump has repeatedly demanded that ByteDance divest its controlling stake in TikTok’s U.S. operations, citing national security concerns. The president, who credits TikTok with helping him secure younger voters and, by extension, his 2024 election victory, has delayed several deadlines for the app’s restructuring. Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, Trump said, “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. And my relationship with China is very good.”
After the call, Trump told reporters that the emerging deal would see TikTok’s U.S. business "owned by all American investors, and very rich people and companies." According to the Wall Street Journal, Oracle and California-based investment firms Silver Lake and Andreessen Horowitz are among those poised to take control. Trump described the arrangement as one where the U.S. would have "very tight control" over the app, calling it "a very good deal for us. I hope it's a good deal for them... These are American investors... They are very famous people financially. They'll have control of it." He also thanked Xi for his cooperation, saying, “We just had a good relationship.”
The TikTok saga has been a recurring flashpoint in U.S.-China relations, with both sides using it as a proxy for broader disagreements over technology, data privacy, and market access. Trump has made no secret of the app’s political value, noting, “It got me numbers that nobody has ever even heard before. The young people of this country want it. The parents of the young people want it badly. So we were able to work out a deal with China.”
Trade policy was another major item on the agenda. Earlier this year, the U.S. and China sharply raised tariffs on each other’s goods, sending shockwaves through global supply chains. A temporary truce brought some relief, lowering levies to 30% on Chinese exports to the U.S. and 10% on American goods heading to China. However, this arrangement is set to expire in November, and both sides are under pressure to hammer out a more durable solution. Ali Wyne of the International Crisis Group told BBC, “Each leader will aim to signal that he has outmaneuvered the other in the trade talks.”
The agricultural sector, particularly soybean farmers, has felt the brunt of these trade tensions. On Wednesday, October 1, Trump addressed the issue directly, writing on Truth Social, "The Soybean Farmers of our Country are being hurt because China is, for 'negotiating' reasons only, not buying. We've made so much money on Tariffs, that we are going to take a small portion of that money, and help our Farmers. I WILL NEVER LET OUR FARMERS DOWN!" He criticized his predecessor, President Joe Biden, for not enforcing a previous agreement that would have seen China purchase billions of dollars in U.S. farm products, especially soybeans. Trump vowed to raise the issue with Xi at their upcoming meeting, stating, "I'll be meeting with President Xi, of China, in four weeks, and Soybeans will be a major topic of discussion. MAKE SOYBEANS, AND OTHER ROW CROPS, GREAT AGAIN!"
According to Business Standard, Trump’s plan is to use some of the tariff revenue to support American farmers, a move he says will shield them from the fallout of China’s purchasing freeze. The president’s messaging is clear: he wants to reassure the agricultural heartland that their interests are front and center in his negotiations with Beijing.
Geopolitics also loomed large. Trump and Xi discussed the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, with Trump expressing hope that China would use its influence to help bring the conflict to an end. In a recent Truth Social post, Trump had even urged European countries to sanction China for buying Russian oil, arguing, “If they did that on China, I think the war (in Ukraine) would maybe end.” While there’s little sign that Beijing is ready to make such a move, the fact that the issue was raised at the highest level underscores how interconnected trade, technology, and security have become in U.S.-China relations.
Looking ahead, both leaders agreed to meet face-to-face at the APEC summit in South Korea in November 2025, with reciprocal state visits planned for the following year—Trump to China in early 2026, and Xi to the U.S. at a later date. The symbolism is hard to miss: after years of mutual suspicion and economic brinkmanship, Washington and Beijing appear to be inching—however cautiously—toward a new phase of engagement.
Whether these talks will yield lasting breakthroughs remains to be seen. But for now, the message from both capitals is one of cautious optimism, with the fate of TikTok, the livelihoods of American farmers, and the future of global trade all hanging in the balance.
