Trump Highlights 'Very Positive' Breakthrough with Xi Amid Past Criticism of China's Trade Violations

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in an extensive phone discussion on Thursday, marking a significant moment in the ongoing dialogue between the world's two largest economies. As tensions over trade policies and national security measures have escalated, the leaders' ninety-minute call appeared to bring a glimmer of hope for renewed cooperation. Trump described the conversation as “very good,” emphasizing that it revolved almost exclusively around the complexities of the recently negotiated trade agreement between Washington and Beijing.

During the call, both sides exchanged invitations for official visits, with Xi inviting President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to China, and Trump reciprocating by inviting Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, to the United States. The diplomatic overtures underscore an effort to rebuild trust after weeks of escalating rhetoric and accusations over failed obligations under the latest trade deal.

The timing of the call was particularly noteworthy. It came shortly after President Trump publicly criticized China for allegedly violating the terms of their May trade accord. Just one day prior, Trump declared via social media that Xi was “extremely hard to make a deal with,” hinting at frustrations over China’s pace in fulfilling its promises. The new agreement had called for the U.S. to reduce its tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, while China agreed to lower its duties on American goods from 125% to 10%.

Despite those commitments, President Trump cited what he called “total violations” of the agreement by China, though he declined to offer specifics. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer echoed Trump’s remarks, pointing specifically to China’s failure to lift certain non-tariff barriers as one of the key sticking points. “The United States did exactly what it was supposed to do, and the Chinese are slow-rolling their compliance, which is completely unacceptable and has to be addressed,” Greer stated on Friday.

In response, officials in Beijing called on the U.S. to “immediately correct its erroneous actions” and to end discriminatory restrictions. A Chinese embassy spokesperson urged Washington to uphold the spirit of the high-level Geneva consensus, indicating China’s willingness to continue dialogue but also its dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs.

Still, President Trump announced that the direct conversation with Xi helped clear up lingering issues. Speaking during an Oval Office briefing alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump said, “We’ve straightened out any complexity, and it’s very complex stuff, and we straightened it out.” He went on to express confidence that both sides are now aligned on the details of the agreement, stressing, “We have a deal, and we’re going to just make sure that everybody understands what the deal is.”

The exchange of diplomatic courtesies comes at a time when the Trump administration has adopted a stricter stance on Chinese student visas, warning of potential mass revocations but also clarifying that foreign students remain welcome if they undergo proper vetting. “We want to have foreign students, but we want them to be checked,” Trump said on Thursday, signaling a desire for balance between national security concerns and maintaining educational ties.

As both sides prepare for upcoming negotiations in Switzerland, the latest dialogue between Trump and Xi signals a potential thaw amid months of acrimony. With their respective invitations extended, and reassurances made about the current trade agreement, the stage appears set for further discussions—though the durability of any agreement will likely depend on tangible follow-through in the coming weeks.