In Washington, D.C., the White House said that former President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping might have a phone call this week. That means the two powerful leaders from the United States and China could be talking very soon!
The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told reporters that this talk is expected to happen soon. This would be an important conversation because there are some big problems between the two countries, especially about trading goods, like electronics, solar panels, and minerals.
Why Are They Talking?
Last month, U.S. and Chinese leaders met in Geneva, a city in Switzerland, to make a deal. They agreed to lower some tariffs (extra fees added to products from other countries). This helped stop things from getting worse between the U.S. and China.
But now, Trump is accusing China of breaking the agreement by still keeping some trade limits in place. That’s why both sides are hoping the phone call will help fix these problems.
Who Else Talked About It?
Karoline Leavitt is actually the third Trump official to say this call might happen soon.
Just one day earlier, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told the TV show Face the Nation that Trump and Xi would speak “very soon” to sort out issues about:
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Important minerals
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Products China is not allowing to leave the country
Trump himself said last Friday that he’s “sure” he will talk to President Xi. But China had said earlier that the two leaders haven’t spoken for a while.
What’s Happening With Tariffs Now?
On Saturday, the U.S. Trade Office gave some good news: it will pause extra fees (tariffs) on some Chinese products like solar panel machines until August 31. That means certain products can still come into the U.S. without higher prices while talks are ongoing.
This small break is part of a 90-day truce (temporary peace) in the trade war between the U.S. and China, which was agreed to last month in Geneva. This news made stock markets around the world very happy, but the biggest problems between the two countries still aren’t solved.
What Are These Big Problems?
The U.S. still believes China is:
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Letting the government control too many businesses
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Making it hard for foreign companies to do business in China
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Exporting too many products while not buying enough from other countries
These big issues will need more talks and more time to fix.
What About the Court Case?
Just this week, things got even more complicated!
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On Wednesday, a U.S. trade court said that Trump didn’t have the right to put so many tariffs in place using emergency powers.
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But less than 24 hours later, a higher court (appeals court) said: “Wait! Let’s pause that decision for now while we think about it.”
The court gave two deadlines:
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People who are against the tariffs must respond by June 5.
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The government must respond by June 9.
So, the fight over tariffs isn’t over yet.
Why This Matters
This story might sound complicated, but it affects everyone—even kids!
If the U.S. and China don’t get along on trade:
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Prices in stores could go up.
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Some toys, gadgets, or school supplies might become more expensive or harder to find.
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People working in companies that buy or sell things with China might lose jobs.
That’s why everyone is watching closely to see if Trump and Xi will talk—and what they’ll decide.
