The world sighed a breath of relief this week when the U.S. and China agreed to hit pause on unprecedented tariffs between the world’s two most powerful countries. Although the decision is a major breakthrough in the trade war, both sides should take the further step of pursuing détente.
Fortunately, that may be on the cards. That is because only two men—Donald Trump and Xi Jinping—must be convinced. And they have both shown an openness to the idea.
Trump had repeatedly expressed desires to meet with Xi and strike a wide-ranging deal earlier on in his presidency. But the April 2025 tariffs created a bilateral impasse. The 90-day truce announced on Monday has changed that, and Trump has subsequently suggested that a direct call with Xi could be imminent, putting a broader rapprochement back on the agenda.
If they talk, Xi might find Trump a more appealing negotiating partner than Joe Biden. The prior President’s approach to China was highly ideological and competitive, stressing democracy versus autocracy, and seeking to align countries against China—while offering Beijing few incentives for cooperation.
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