On June 5, 2025, President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first conversation since Trump’s inauguration, as revealed by Chinese state media. This communication comes amid growing frictions between the United States and China, particularly as recent agreements intended to stabilize trading conditions appear to falter. The call, reported late Thursday without detailed context, follows an earlier meeting in Geneva where both countries consented to temporarily ease hostilities in their ongoing trade war.
Trump and Xi Engage Amid Rising Trade Tensions
Trump and Xi Engage Amid Rising Trade Tensions
In a significant development, President Trump and Xi Jinping spoke as U.S.-China trade relations face renewed challenges.
Tensions escalated after Trump publicly criticized Xi on social media, claiming the Chinese leader is “VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH.” This comes in light of the United States accusing China of breaching the Geneva agreement by limiting exports of essential rare earth minerals, which are crucial for numerous American industries, including the automotive and semiconductor sectors. These rare minerals are vital for producing powerful magnets and their scarcity could potentially halt operations in various U.S. manufacturing plants.
China, which wields significant control over the global supply of these minerals, is perceived by the Trump administration as using this leverage to its advantage. In a bid to counteract these tensions, the administration has proposed revoking visas for certain Chinese students and has limited sales of key components and software to China related to jet engines and semiconductors.
Despite the accusations, Chinese officials have denied any breach of the Geneva terms, placing responsibility for the escalating tensions on U.S. actions. As the situation continues to unfold, the White House has not yet provided official comments regarding these developments.
The article was authored by David Pierson, who specializes in Chinese foreign policy, alongside Ana Swanson, who reports on international trade and economic matters from Washington, D.C.
China, which wields significant control over the global supply of these minerals, is perceived by the Trump administration as using this leverage to its advantage. In a bid to counteract these tensions, the administration has proposed revoking visas for certain Chinese students and has limited sales of key components and software to China related to jet engines and semiconductors.
Despite the accusations, Chinese officials have denied any breach of the Geneva terms, placing responsibility for the escalating tensions on U.S. actions. As the situation continues to unfold, the White House has not yet provided official comments regarding these developments.
The article was authored by David Pierson, who specializes in Chinese foreign policy, alongside Ana Swanson, who reports on international trade and economic matters from Washington, D.C.
