Trump Describes 'Amazing' Meeting with Xi Jinping, No Trade Deal Yet

Sun Nov 30 2025 23:47:10 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

During a recent high-stakes discussion between US President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping, both leaders expressed a commitment to resolving critical trade issues, though a formal agreement was not reached. Tensions between the two countries, marked by a trade war with heavy tariffs, showed signs of potential easing, but significant challenges remain.

US President Donald Trump called his recent meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping 'amazing,' signifying a potential thaw in US-China relations amidst a complex trade landscape. No formal trade agreements emerged from the meeting, yet mutual aspirations to resolve key economic issues were publicly acknowledged. While Trump touted commitments from China to resume purchases of US agricultural products, Xi maintained a cautious stance, emphasizing the need for careful negotiations moving forward. The meeting illustrated differing approaches, with the US leaning on a more optimistic narrative amidst substantial trade barriers still in place.

US President Donald Trump has hailed an 'amazing' meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, amid rising hopes for a de-escalation of tensions between the world's two biggest economies.

Beijing was less effusive, saying the two sides had reached a consensus to resolve 'major trade issues' during the leaders' first face-to-face meeting in six years.

Trump's trade war had set off tit-for-tat tariffs that shot past 100% on both sides, but they agreed to a truce in May - although tensions remained high.

Thursday's talks did not lead to a formal agreement but the announcements suggest they are closer to a deal - the details of which have long been subject to behind-the-scenes negotiations.

Trade deals normally take years to negotiate, and countries around the world have been thrown into resolving differences with the current Trump administration within a matter of months.

One key win for Trump is that China has agreed to suspend export control measures it had placed on rare earths, crucial for the production of everything from smartphones to fighter jets.

A jubilant president told reporters on Air Force One that he had also got China to start immediately buying a 'tremendous amounts of soybeans and other farm products.' Retaliatory tariffs on American soybeans by Beijing had effectively halted imports from the US, harming US farmers - a key voting block for Trump.

However, it seems other tariffs, or taxes on imported goods, will remain in place, meaning that goods arriving in the US from China are still being taxed at a rate of over 40% for US importers.

Beijing will also be able to speak to Jensen Huang, the head of US tech firm Nvidia - according to Trump. Nvidia is at the heart of the two countries' fight over AI chips: China wants high-end chips but the US wants to limit China's access, citing national security.

Meanwhile, the US has said it will drop part of the tariffs it has levied on Beijing over the flow of ingredients used in making fentanyl to the US. Trump has imposed severe tariffs on the US's top trade partners for their perceived failure to clamp down on the drug.

Beijing has also extended an invitation to Trump to visit China in April - yet another sign of thawing relations.

Despite the outward optimism, the meeting revealed fundamental differences in the leaders' approaches. Xi was composed and deliberate, aware of China's strengthening economic position, while Trump displayed a more casual demeanor, but also unease in light of the high stakes.

Henry Wang, a former adviser to China's State Council, remarked that while no formal deal was reached, a 'framework and structure has been laid' for future negotiations, calling it 'a good start.'