Trump Hails Xi as Friend in Trade Deal Push

President Donald Trump has called Chinese President Xi Jinping a great friend as the two eye a new trade deal to level the playing field. Speaking Thursday at a Davos summit Trump praised their bond. He said it is key to fixing years of unfair trade with China. The comments come as his team rolls back Obama-era pacts. Trump wants a deal that cuts the U.S. trade gap and boosts American jobs. He also hinted at Chinas help in ending the Ukraine war. It is a fresh sign of warming ties with Beijing.

Trump has long griped about Chinas trade edge. The U.S. deficit with China hit 375 billion in 2023. He blames weak past leaders for letting it grow. Now he is pushing Xi to buy more American goods. That includes farm products and steel. Trump says Xi gets it and wants a fair deal too. The two have talked often since Trump took office last month. Aides say a pact could come by summer if China plays ball. It is a shift from his first term when tariffs sparked a trade war.

Xi has not spoken publicly on Trumps latest praise. But Beijing has signaled it is open to talks. Chinas Foreign Ministry said this week it welcomes dialogue with the U.S. That follows a video call between Xi and Russias Vladimir Putin. The two vowed to deepen their own ties after Trumps inauguration. Analysts say Xi sees a chance to ease tensions with Washington. Trade friction spiked last year when Trump slapped a 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods. Now he wants cooperation instead.

The trade push fits Trumps America-first pitch. He won in 2024 vowing to bring jobs home. A deal with China could mean more factory work in states like Ohio. It might also calm markets jittery over his tariff threats. Trump told Davos he wants firms making stuff in the U.S. or paying a price. China could help by importing more he said. Some experts doubt Xi will give up much. They note China needs its own growth to stay strong.

Trump tied the trade talk to Ukraine too. He said China has sway over Russia and could end the war. That is a bold claim with no clear plan yet. Putin has cheered Trumps overtures to Moscow. Critics say it risks pulling China and Russia closer. Still Trump sees Xi as a partner here. He called their friendship a game-changer. European leaders watching this worry about being left out. They want a say in any peace push.

The White House is moving fast on this. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Chinese officials last week. They floated balanced trade as a goal. Trump says it is about respect not just money. He claims past deals let China flood the U.S. with cheap goods. Now he wants exports flowing the other way. Illegal immigration from China is down too he noted. That is a win for his base who cheer tight borders.

Democrats are skeptical of Trumps Xi love-fest. They warn China might outfox him again. Senate Leader Chuck Schumer called it naive on Thursday. He said Xi will not budge without hard pressure. Trump brushed that off. He told Fox News he knows Xi better than anyone. The deal will prove it he said. For now talks are early. Aides say no numbers are set yet. But Trump is betting big on his friend in Beijing.

This could shape Trumps legacy. A trade win would back his claim as a master negotiator. It might also quiet critics who say he is soft on rivals. Xi gets a chance to look strong too. Both leaders face slowdowns at home. A deal could lift them up. Americans might see cheaper goods and more jobs if it works. The Ukraine angle adds stakes. Success there would boost Trumps global clout. Failure could sink it all.