Trump, xi hold ‘very good’ phone call ‘focused almost entirely on trade’

President Trump held a much-anticipated phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, “focused almost entirely on trade” — with the leaders agreeing to have their reps

meet soon and laying the groundwork for more bilateral talks. “I just concluded a very good phone call with President Xi, of China, discussing some of the intricacies of our recently made,

and agreed to, Trade Deal,” Trump wrote on Truth Social at the conclusion of the 90-minute chat. “There should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products,”

he added, describing the call as reaching a “good conclusion” for both countries. The control of rare earth elements by China had become a major hurdle in the trade talks, The Post

previously reported, with Beijing refusing to lower its export restrictions. China controls the global share of several critical elements that are vital for the production of smartphones,

drones, electric cars and more, causing national security concerns that Beijing may halt all exports and cripple the US economy. EXPLORE MORE Trump had fumed Friday over China’s behavior,

writing on Truth Social: “The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!” But the call seemed to

lessen tensions between the US and China — to the point that, according to Trump, Xi invited the American president and his wife Melania to visit, with the commander in chief reciprocating

the offer. Xi also invited Trump and his wife, Melania, to visit China, and the US president reciprocated the offer, he wrote. “As Presidents of two Great Nations, this is something that we

both look forward to doing,” Trump wrote of the prospective China visit. “The conversation was focused almost entirely on TRADE. Nothing was discussed concerning Russia/Ukraine, or Iran.”

“We had a very good conversation,” Trump later told reporters in the Oval Office. “It’s very complex stuff and we straightened it out.” “I think we’re in very good shape with China,” he

added, noting that Chinese students are welcome to the US as long as they are screened like every other foreign student group. START AND END YOUR DAY INFORMED WITH OUR NEWSLETTERS Morning

Report and Evening Update: Your source for today's top stories THANKS FOR SIGNING UP! Secretary of State Marco Rubio promised last month to “aggressively” pull visas from Chinese

students studying in “critical fields” or with connections to the Communist Party. The president previously told a Post reporter in the Oval Office that he would be “nice” to China and not

play “hardball” in his talks, scoffing at the idea that he would mention the COVID-19 pandemic. The two leaders have sparred for months over trade, but had yet to speak one-on-one amid the

escalating tensions. Last month, Trump sent US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Switzerland, where the US struck an initial tariff deal with China,

lowering the duty rate on Beijing imports to 30% from as high as 145%. Trump said he and Xi spoke about sending their respective teams to discuss another deal, but hadn’t set up the exact

timing yet.  The US team will be led by Greer, Bessent, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.