• Former President Donald Trump confirms plans to visit China after a positive call with President Xi Jinping, centered on trade and rare earth products.
  • Both sides have agreed to have their negotiation teams meet soon, led by high-level officials, following a 90-day extension of the tariff truce.
  • The diplomatic outreach occurs against a backdrop of recent tariff hikes on steel and aluminum, highlighting the complex interplay of negotiation and economic pressure.

Former President Donald Trump has publicly stated that he "will go to China at some point," confirming plans for a visit following what he described as a positive and extensive telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The call, which both sides have acknowledged, focused predominantly on advancing bilateral trade deals and diplomatic relations, with a specific emphasis on the critical issue of rare earth commodities.

According to people familiar with the matter, the call concluded with an agreement for high-level officials from both the US and China to meet soon at an undetermined location. This planned meeting of negotiation teams is seen as a critical next step to build on the momentum from the leaders' discussion. The White House confirmed that the conversation was strictly trade-focused, though Chinese readouts noted that Xi Jinping also cautioned against US involvement with Taiwan, underscoring the persistent diplomatic sensitivities that underpin the relationship.

The outreach comes just after Trump signed an executive order extending the current tariff truce with China for another 90 days. The administration has stated that economic talks between the world's two largest economies are "progressing positively." However, this diplomatic push exists alongside aggressive economic actions. Earlier this year, Trump invoked national economic security concerns to significantly increase tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from China and all other countries, to 50% and 10% respectively.

Market watchers are viewing the combination of the tariff truce extension and the scheduling of high-level talks as a stabilizing signal for global businesses and supply chains that are heavily reliant on US-China trade flows. The potential for a leader-level visit reduces immediate volatility and suggests a willingness from both sides to engage in substantive, albeit complex, negotiations. A spokesperson for the former president did not immediately respond to a request for comment on potential dates for the trip. The development is being closely monitored for its potential to clarify trade terms and reduce tensions, though experts forecast only cautious progress given the structurally competitive nature of the relationship, especially in high-tech and defense-critical sectors.