Trump, Xi Hold Talks on TikTok, Trade, and Global Security Amid Strained Relations

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by telephone on Friday, with Trump hailing what he described as “progress” on a range of issues, including the contentious fate of TikTok. Beijing, however, struck a more measured tone, underscoring the fragility of ties between the world’s two largest economies.

The conversation, only the second since Trump’s return to the White House, touched on technology, trade, and international security. Trump told reporters that Xi had “approved” a deal for TikTok’s sale to US investors, though he cautioned that “we have to get it signed.” The Chinese government did not confirm any agreement, reiterating instead that business negotiations must be conducted within market rules and in line with Chinese law.

“China hopes the US side will provide an open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies investing in the United States,” Beijing’s statement said, describing the talks as “frank and in-depth.”

TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, has been at the center of a political firestorm in Washington, where lawmakers fear the app could be exploited by Beijing to gather data on millions of American users. Last year, during Joe Biden’s presidency, Congress passed legislation requiring ByteDance to divest its US operations or face a ban. Trump, while critical of China on the campaign trail, has resisted enforcing the ban outright, even as he continues to use the platform to connect with younger voters.

Potential buyers for TikTok include Oracle, led by billionaire Larry Ellison, a vocal Trump supporter. Critics say any sale raises questions over who would control the app’s algorithm, the key driver of its influence. Wendy Cutler, a former US trade negotiator and now senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said “many details remain unclear” and noted that Beijing appears intent on extracting concessions before allowing a deal.

Beyond technology, the leaders also discussed broader geopolitical issues. Trump said Xi had promised to work with Washington toward ending the war in Ukraine, where Beijing has provided indirect support to Moscow. He added that the two sides had made progress on “many very important issues” and confirmed plans to meet Xi in person during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea next month. Trump also announced he would travel to China next year, while Xi is expected to make a reciprocal visit to the United States.

The dialogue follows months of friction over tariffs, with Washington currently imposing 30 percent duties on Chinese goods and Beijing levying 10 percent on US products. A temporary deal to ease those levies is set to expire in November.

Despite the conciliatory language from both leaders, tensions remain evident. Earlier this year, Trump accused Xi of “conspiring” against the United States after Beijing hosted a military parade featuring Russian and North Korean leaders. China, for its part, said Xi had expressed appreciation to Trump for America’s role in World War II during their call.

For now, the future of TikTok — and the broader US-China relationship — remains uncertain, even as both presidents signal an interest in keeping dialogue open.