Donald Trump announced his intention to hold a phone call with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, as part of a reset in the relations between the two countries, which are entering a new phase in their diplomatic and trade history
According to the American president, the possible call will take place later this week and will be dedicated to discussing the agreements reached and further steps to improve bilateral relations. This announcement came amid significant changes in trade negotiations that recently took place in Geneva, where the US and China reached a new level in their dialogue. During a press conference at the White House on May 12, Trump emphasized that the results of the negotiations represented a "full reset" in the relationship between the world's two largest economies. "Our relations are now very good and stable," he noted, adding that he plans to contact Xi Jinping soon — possibly by the end of this week. The communication between the US and China has intensified after a difficult period of escalation in trade tensions. As a reminder, Trump previously increased tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, and in response, Beijing imposed tariffs on American imports from 125% to 125%. This had significant consequences for both economies: in April, Chinese exports to the US decreased by an impressive 21%, and business representatives began expressing concerns about possible shortages of essential goods and components. Meanwhile, during recent negotiations in Switzerland, important agreements were reached, offering hope for the improvement of trade relations. According to these, the US agreed to temporarily reduce tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China will lower tariffs on American products from 125% to 10%. Additionally, the parties agreed to establish a "mechanism for further discussion and continued negotiations" regarding the resolution of economic and trade issues. Following this symbolic step in trade, Trump expressed optimism about the future dialogue. Analyzing the prospects, he pointed out the likelihood that a new exchange of views by the current Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, would help build trust and find effective solutions to existing problems. This signaled that the Trump administration is preparing the groundwork for a gradual removal of trade barriers and a return to more stable and predictable relations with Beijing. It is expected that this upcoming conversation will become a key stage in the process of restoring cooperation between the US and China, which will be cautious and thorough, taking into account all the nuances of previous conflicts and disputes in the trade sphere. Only time will tell how these intentions translate into real actions and how they will impact the global economy and the political situation in the region.