A much-anticipated call Friday morning between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping produced a flurry of announcements: plans for multiple face-to-face meetings over the coming months and what Trump described as “approval” of a deal to spin off TikTok’s U.S. operations.
Trump said on social media he will meet Xi at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea on Oct. 30–Nov. 1 and travel to China in early 2026, while Xi is expected to visit the U.S. “at an appropriate time.”
Both governments offered differing tones in their readouts. China said Xi supports a “commercial solution” for TikTok and called for clearer rules on Chinese investment in the U.S. Trump emphasized an all-American investor spinoff, writing Friday, “Appreciate the TikTok approval,” but gave no further details.
Trade tensions were also on the agenda. Trump highlighted “progress on many very important issues including Trade,” while Chinese state media described the call as “pragmatic and constructive” but urged Washington to avoid new restrictive measures that could “undermine” talks.
Trump added that the two leaders also discussed curbing illegal drug flows and ending the war in Ukraine. The call began at 8 a.m. ET, according to a White House official.
The president had previewed the TikTok deal during his U.K. visit earlier in the week, saying it was essentially complete and hinting at movement on tariffs. Chinese media confirmed a TikTok framework agreement but continued to frame it differently, saying only that a consensus had been reached for Chinese companies, including TikTok, to continue operating in the U.S.
Key questions remain over how TikTok’s Chinese-controlled algorithm will be handled if the app is spun off into a U.S.-led company. Reports suggest a consortium led by Oracle (ORCL), Andreessen Horowitz and Silver Lake Management would take the lead in running the U.S. operation.
Trump also signaled openness to extending a partial tariff détente. Current duties stand at 30% on Chinese imports and 10% on U.S. goods, with additional sector-specific tariffs pushing effective rates higher. A 90-day pause on further hikes expires in early November, raising the possibility of a return to triple-digit tariffs seen at the start of Trump’s term.
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