Trump had a call with China's Xi about TikTok and trade
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China's President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with then-President Trump before a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Osaka in 2019. Photo: Brendan Smialowski / AFP
President-elect Trump spoke Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping by phone just days before the U.S. presidential inauguration.
Why it matters: Trump said last month he exchanged messages with Xi after winning the election but didn't confirm they spoke. The president-elect has promised to implement aggressive tariffs on imports from China and could also be forced to determine the fate of TikTok upon taking office.
- The call took place several hours after the Chinese foreign ministry announced that Xi is sending his vice president Han Zheng to Washington, D.C., to attend the inaugural ceremony Monday.
- President Biden has said he won't enforce the TikTok ban that's supposed to take effect Sunday, the AP reported.
- According to the Chinese state news agency, Trump requested the call.
What they're saying: "I just spoke to Chairman Xi Jinping of China. The call was a very good one for both China and the U.S.A. It is my expectation that we will solve many problems together, and starting immediately," Trump said in a post on his truth Social account.
- He said they discussed balancing trade, fentanyl, TikTok and "many other subjects."
- "President Xi and I will do everything possible to make the World more peaceful and safe!" Trump added.
Per the Chinese state news agency, Xi told Trump: "China and the U.S. have extensive common interests and broad space for cooperation. They can become partners and friends, achieve mutual success, prosper together, and benefit both countries and the world."
- Trump and Xi discussed Taiwan, Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Xi asked Trump to handle the Taiwan issue "with caution."
- It reported Trump told Xi he looks forward to meeting him "as soon as possible."
State of play: According to a bipartisan law passed last year, the Chinese-owned TikTok needs to be sold to an American company or shut down operations in the U.S. by Jan. 19, due to national security concerns.
- Trump has said he wants to take measures to "preserve" the wildly popular app in the U.S. despite the new law, his incoming national security adviser, Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), said Thursday.
- Trump asked the Supreme Court last month to pause the TikTok ban, cementing his flip-flopping after he advocated to ban the app during his first term.
- The high court is set to rule as soon as Friday on whether to uphold the law, which justices seemed inclined to do during oral arguments last week.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional developments.
