Trump and Xi Jinping Invite Each Other on State Visits Amid Ongoing Trade Dispute

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation Thursday, marking a significant moment in the ongoing trade negotiations between the United States and China. According to President Trump, the call, which lasted about ninety minutes, focused "almost entirely" on the terms and details of the recently agreed-upon trade deal. Both leaders exchanged invitations for official visits, with Xi inviting the president and First Lady Melania Trump to China, and Trump extending a similar offer to Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan.

This high-level dialogue takes place against a backdrop of escalating tension. Just days prior, President Trump publicly criticized China for allegedly violating the initial trade agreement reached in May. Trump described Xi as "extremely hard to make a deal with," reflecting difficulties that have plagued talks between the two economic superpowers. Despite the fraught atmosphere, the recent negotiations produced concessions on both sides: U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports were slated to decrease from 145% to 30%, while China's tariffs on American goods would drop from 125% to 10%.

However, optimism quickly faded as the U.S. accused China of failing to uphold its side of the bargain. On Friday, President Trump expressed frustration via social media, declaring, "China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!" His remarks underscored ongoing skepticism within the Trump administration regarding Beijing's willingness to fully implement the agreed reforms.

Adding to the mounting pressure, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that China had not lifted its non-tariff barriers as required under the deal, accusing Beijing of "slow-rolling their compliance." Greer emphasized that the United States had met all of its obligations and called China's actions "completely unacceptable and [something] that has to be addressed."

Meanwhile, Chinese officials countered with their own demands. A spokesperson for China’s embassy, Liu Pengyu, urged the United States to "immediately correct its erroneous actions" and cease what Beijing characterized as discriminatory measures. Liu also called for both sides to uphold the agreements reached during high-level discussions in Geneva.

Despite these challenges, there are indications that both countries remain invested in reaching a lasting accord. With negotiations scheduled to continue in Switzerland, speculation persists regarding the potential for further breakthroughs. President Trump suggested that China is “very much interested” in securing a final trade deal, signaling the possibility of continued engagement even as disputes over compliance linger.