Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump held a direct phone conversation on Thursday, marking their first dialogue since a renewed escalation in trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

The call, reported by China’s official Xinhua News Agency, comes amid a prolonged tariff dispute and a breakdown in earlier trade negotiations.

According to Xinhua, the conversation was initiated at the request of the U.S. side, suggesting a possible attempt by Washington to re-engage Beijing following a collapse in bilateral talks earlier this year. The call is being closely watched by international observers, as both sides have hardened their rhetoric in recent weeks.

A temporary agreement reached on May 12 had offered a short-lived reprieve, including a 90-day suspension of most tariffs and a mutual rollback of previous trade measures. However, hopes for a longer-term resolution quickly faded as officials from both countries accused each other of failing to uphold the terms of the deal.

President Trump has repeatedly charged Beijing with “reneging” on its commitments, while Chinese officials dismissed those claims as “groundless” earlier this week. The Chinese government also warned it was prepared to implement strong countermeasures in defense of its economic interests if provocations continued.

The call between the two presidents follows heightened tensions on social media. On Wednesday, President Trump described Xi as “VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH,” further underlining the sense of frustration in Washington.

While the substance of Thursday's conversation has not been publicly disclosed, analysts suggest the direct engagement may signal a cautious step toward reviving dialogue amid mounting concerns over global market volatility and economic uncertainty.

As of press time, neither the White House nor the Chinese Foreign Ministry has issued an official readout or summary of the exchange. (ILKHA)