Trump says Xi has “more or less agreed” to boost US imports after “very good” call

US President Donald Trump says Chinese leader Xi Jinping has “more or less agreed” to step up purchases of American goods, following what both sides described as a constructive phone call between the two.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Tuesday, Trump said he had pressed Xi to move faster on trade commitments.

“I asked him, I’d like you to buy it a little faster. I’d like you to buy more. And he’s more or less agreed to do that,” Trump said. “I think we will be pleasantly surprised by the actions of President Xi.”

Beijing characterised the call as “positive, friendly and constructive”, with China’s foreign ministry stressing that “communication between the two heads of state on issues of common concern is crucial for the stable development of China-US relations”.

Trump’s optimism follows China’s recent decision to resume purchases of US soya beans and halt expanded restrictions on rare earth exports, signalling a cautious easing in the ongoing trade conflict. However, the pace of buying has so far lagged behind expectations.

While China pledged to purchase 12 million metric tonnes of US soya beans this year, only around two million tonnes have been ordered so far, according to US agriculture data cited by Reuters.

The call comes just weeks after the two leaders met in South Korea and agreed on a preliminary framework for a trade deal that remains unfinished.

Alongside trade, Xi reportedly raised broader geopolitical themes. He told Trump that “China and the United States once fought side by side against fascism and militarism, and should now work together to safeguard the outcomes of World War II”, according to state news agency Xinhua. He also reiterated Beijing’s position that “Taiwan’s return to China is an integral part of the post-war international order”.

Trump later avoided any mention of Taiwan in his public comments, instead highlighting the overall tone of the relationship. On Truth Social, he described the call as “very good” and said it covered a wide range of topics including Ukraine, fentanyl and US agricultural products.

“Our relationship with China is extremely strong! This call was a follow up to our highly successful meeting in South Korea, three weeks ago. Since then, there has been significant progress on both sides in keeping our agreements current and accurate,” Trump wrote. “Now we can set our sights on the big picture.”

Trump also confirmed he had accepted Xi’s invitation to visit Beijing in April and extended an invitation for Xi to make a state visit to the United States later in the year.