Top economic leaders from China and the United States met over a video call on Thursday to discuss their complicated trade relationship. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng spoke directly with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that the three men had candid, in-depth, and constructive exchanges during the call. The three officials last met in person for trade talks in Paris back in March.
During the video conference, the Chinese delegation expressed serious concern over recent American trade policies. They specifically pointed to new restrictive trade measures that the US government imposed on China. Despite the complaints, CCTV reported that both sides agreed to work together. The leaders promised to enhance their mutual consensus, manage their political differences, and find new ways to strengthen economic cooperation.
The US Treasury Department and the Office of the US Trade Representative did not immediately respond to reporters’ questions about the video call. According to the Chinese government, the meeting aimed to effectively resolve economic issues of mutual concern and expand pragmatic cooperation. This high-level call took place just a few weeks before a major global event: US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping plan to hold a summit in mid-May.
The two global superpowers currently operate under an uneasy trade truce. Trump and Xi reached this fragile agreement last October when they met face-to-face in Busan, South Korea. That October meeting finally paused a brutal, months-long trade war. The bitter fight began when President Trump slapped heavy tariffs on Chinese goods, which he famously called his “Liberation Day” tariffs.
Since that October truce, the relationship between Beijing and Washington has remained surprisingly calm. The two nations managed to keep their trade flowing despite massive global disruptions. The ongoing war involving Iran created severe energy shortages and complex geopolitical problems, but the US and China kept their own economic arguments from boiling over.
However, as the May summit approaches, both countries continue to make aggressive moves to gain political leverage. Washington recently placed strict limits on American companies selling high-tech equipment to China. The US government specifically blocked shipments of tools to one of China’s leading computer chip manufacturers. This move aims to slow the growth of the Chinese technology sector and protect American dominance in the semiconductor industry.
Beijing quickly fought back with its own economic weapons. The Chinese government rolled out new trade measures designed to hurt American businesses. Economic analysts warn that these new Chinese rules could seriously damage the US strategy to reduce its reliance on Chinese supply chains. Both nations clearly want to show their strength before Trump and Xi sit down at the negotiating table next month.
Despite the recent attacks on each other’s economies, the Thursday video call ended on a somewhat positive note. Chinese state media reported that both sides expressed a genuine willingness to improve the situation. The leaders agreed to promote the healthy, stable, and sustainable development of China-US economic and trade relations moving forward. The whole world will be watching closely to see whether Trump and Xi can turn these positive words into concrete action at their May summit.
