U.S., China hold first call since Geneva meeting, signaling progress in trade talks

Ava Morgan
7 Min Read

Chinese Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu Attends the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 21, 2024.

Mauro Pimentel | AFP | Getty Images

The US and China Agreed to Keep Lines of Communication Open, Following a calling Senior Officials Thursday, signaling Continued High-Level Engagement As Both Sides Work Toward A Broader Deal.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau Exchanged Views On A Range of Key Issues Dooring the Call, Both Sides Said in Closely Aligned Statements Released the Topic’s Witches. Specifictying WHETERS WHETERS.

While the Call May not Indicate a Breakthrough In The Ongoing Trade Talks, It is a “Positive Sign” That Beijing Now Knows Who To Talk to On The Us Side, Said Dan Wang, China Director at Political Risk Consultancy Establish Group, Adding That Talk “

Following the High-Level Talks in Geneva, Switzerland, Earlier This Month, Both Sides Issued A Rare Joint Statement to Temporarily Lower Most Tariffs on Each Other’s Goods, While Working A Broader Agreement.

The Last Time Both Sides Issued a Joint Statement was in November 2023, which Focused on Climate Cooperation.

The Call Between Ma and Landau was the Second Diplomatic-Level Call Between the US and China Duration Us President Donald Trump’s Second Term, Said Xinbo Wu, Director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had spoken with us secretary of State Marco Rubio in January after Trump Returned to the Office.

The thursday call signals that both sides are “reconnecting” on the diplomatic level and may be preparing for upcoming talks on Beijing’s Cooperation in Curbing Fentanyl Flows, Wu Said.

Earlier This Week, Ma had with the new US Ambassador to China, David Perdue, Signaling that Beijing Hopes to Align More Closely with the Us in the On On the on -off Trade Discussion, ACCORDING TO A READOUT OUT OUT OF THE MEETING.

In that meeting, pererdue said he had shared Trump’s priorities for the bilateral relations, accordance to a post on his x account. “I look forward to working with the ministry and counterparts to achieve concrete outcomes for the american people,” he said in the post.

Trump has made it a priority to curb the flow of fentanyl precursors from China, which are used to make the deadly opioid. He has also urged beijing to open up its markets to the us

Perdue’s Arrival in Beijing Came As a Trade War Between the World’s Two Largest Economies had Stoked Fears of A Broader “Decoupling.”

Former user senator david perdue looks on as he attends his swearing-in ceremony to be the new US ambassador to China, Held by US President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, DC, US, May 7, 2025.

Leah Millis | Reuters

Chinese exhibitors are looking to diversify away from the US market, accordance to industry surveys and economists, undeterred by the temporary tariff truce, while American firms acceleration to shift production out of China.

In a separate meeting with Jpmorgan Chase Jamie Dimon on Thursday, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng Said the Negotiations with the US on Economic and Trade Issues have “Made Substantial Progress,” Stressing Beijing’s Stance or Intending to Further.

Yuyuuantian, a social media account affiliated with Chinese State Media CCTV, Claimed Dimon Said in Meetings with Chinese Officials That the US Government Does Not Want to Decouple with China.

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Despite the recently de-escalation following the Geneva Talks, Beijing and Washington Have Continued to Trade Barbs.

Chinese Authorities Have Pushed Back Against a Us Decision that Warned Companies Not To Use-Made Artificial Intelligence Chips, Partularly Those Provided by Huawei Technologies.

The latest Dispute over the Usage of Chinese semiconductor Chips Underscored the “Inevitable Clash” Between the Two Countries in Certain Strategic Sectors, Nomura Analysts Said in a Note Friday.

“Strategic Decoupling Remains Inevitable,” The Analysts Said, Expecting the Trump Administration to use More Targeted Sectoral Tariffs and Non-Tariff Measures Aimed At Containing China’s Access to Advanced Technology. In Response, China Might Tighten Its Export Controls on Rare Earths to the US, Nomura Said.

China’s Ministry of Commerce Earlier This Week Called the Move “Unilateral Bullying” and Blamed the US for Undermining Trade Talks, Vowing to Take Resolute Measures to Protect Its Rights and Interests.

Correction: This Story Has Been updated to reflect that the call was with us Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.