Trump optimistic about trade deal with China after "friendly" call with Xi Jinping

US President Donald Trump described his recent conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping as "friendly" and expressed confidence that a trade deal could be reached between the two countries.

In an interview with Fox News aired on Thursday evening, Trump said the call, which took place before he took office on Monday, was productive and cordial. He also mentioned that he believed he could strike a deal with China over fair trade practices.

The leaders of the world's two largest economies discussed various issues during their conversation, including trade, the popular social media app TikTok, and tensions over Taiwan. Since taking office, Trump has talked about imposing a 10% punitive duty on Chinese imports, citing concerns over fentanyl shipments from China to the US via Mexico and Canada. However, he did not immediately follow through on the tariff threat as he had during his election campaign.

Trump also reiterated his stance on tariffs, acknowledging their effectiveness but stating that he would prefer not to use them. "But we have one very big power over China, and that's tariffs, and they don't want them," Trump said. "I'd rather not have to use it, but it's a tremendous power over China."

The US and China continue to navigate a range of diplomatic and economic tensions, including disputes over technology, trade practices, and security concerns related to Chinese-owned companies like ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok.