President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping has “more or less agreed” to accelerate purchases of US goods, following a phone call described by Beijing as “positive, friendly and constructive.”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he asked Xi to buy US goods more quickly and in greater quantities.
“I think we will be pleasantly surprised by the actions of President Xi,” Trump added.
The discussion comes after China recently resumed purchases of US soya beans and halted expanded curbs on rare earth exports amid detente in the ongoing tariff dispute.
Progress on trade commitments
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed China pledged to buy 12 million metric tonnes of US soya beans this year, though current purchases lag behind expectations, with nearly two million metric tonnes ordered so far.
Trump’s phone call with Xi follows a recent South Korea meeting, where both leaders agreed on a framework for a trade deal that is yet to be finalized.
Broader issues on the table
Trump and Xi also discussed Taiwan, Ukraine, and fentanyl, though Trump’s later statements focused on trade and farm products. Xi reportedly emphasized that Taiwan’s return to China is “an integral part of the post-war international order.”
The US maintains strategic ambiguity regarding military intervention in Taiwan, while urging Taipei to strengthen its defense budget.
Trump said he accepted Xi’s invitation to visit Beijing in April and invited Xi for a state visit to the US later this year. China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Washington initiated the call, with spokesperson Mao Ning describing it as “positive, friendly and constructive,” adding that communication on common issues is “crucial for the stable development of China-US relations.”
