Trump–Xi to discuss TikTok deal, future of U.S.-China relations
Friday's call could signal whether leaders will meet in person and lay out a path on trade, tech and data security
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday in a bid to finalize a framework that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States. Officials say the call could also signal whether the two leaders will meet in person to settle the broader questions between the United States and China, including trade.
It would be the second call since Trump returned to the White House and launched high tariffs on China that strained ties between the two largest economies. U.S. officials have described progress on TikTok and other trade issues as modest but plausible, and a meeting could set the stage for a summit if talks make further headway.
Following a Madrid trade meeting earlier this week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the sides had reached a framework on TikTok's ownership, including a path to a ByteDance restructuring that would safeguard U.S. user data and content security. Trump and Xi were expected to finalize the details on Friday.
China's embassy in Washington did not confirm the call, but a spokesperson, Liu Pengyu, said that heads-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in guiding China-U.S. relations.
Analysts say the talks are likely to emphasize economic leverage and strategic considerations. Sun Yun of the Stimson Center predicted a positive tone given both sides' desire for a leadership summit, while warning that progress hinges on what can be accomplished on the trade file.
No deals have been announced on tech export restrictions, Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products or fentanyl. The broader tariff dispute continues to complicate negotiations, with tariffs and export controls remaining a key pressure point.
U.S. farmers have been hurt by the trade fight. From January through July, American farm exports to China fell 53% from a year earlier, with sorghum sales down 97% in some categories. Josh Gackle, chair of the American Soybean Association, said farmers are watching Friday's call closely and remain hopeful that dialogue will produce a deal.
Four rounds of top-level talks since May have yielded some pauses in tariffs and export controls, but many issues remain unresolved as the two powers prepare for more engagement in coming weeks.