U.S. President Donald Trump is set to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday in an effort to finalize a deal that would allow the social media app TikTok to continue operating in the United States. The call is scheduled to begin around 8 a.m. Washington time. This will be the second conversation between the two leaders since Trump returned to the White House and imposed significant tariffs on China, which have led to escalating trade tensions between the two nations.

Trump has shown a willingness to negotiate trade agreements with China, particularly regarding TikTok. The app faces a potential ban in the U.S. unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests its controlling stake. Trump has previously credited TikTok with contributing to his electoral success and has extended the deadline for the company to comply with U.S. regulations multiple times.

In a statement before the call, Trump mentioned, "I’m speaking with President Xi, as you know, on Friday, having to do with TikTok and also trade. And we’re very close to deals on all of it." He described his relationship with China as "very good" but noted that geopolitical issues, such as Russia's war in Ukraine, could influence trade dynamics.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not confirm any upcoming summit between the two leaders but emphasized the importance of high-level diplomacy in guiding U.S.-China relations. Experts predict that both leaders will seek to make progress on trade issues during their discussion. Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, stated, "Both sides have strong desire for the leadership summit to happen, while the details lie in the trade deal and what can be achieved for both sides from the summit."

Recent discussions between U.S. and Chinese officials have focused on TikTok's ownership structure. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that a framework deal had been reached, but the final agreement is expected to be solidified during Friday's call. TikTok's continued operation in the U.S. hinges on compliance with a law aimed at addressing data privacy and national security concerns.

Concerns about ByteDance's ownership have been raised, particularly regarding Chinese laws that may compel companies to share data with the government. U.S. officials are also wary of TikTok's algorithm, which determines user content. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi emphasized that TikTok's data and algorithm must be "truly in American hands" to meet legal requirements.

In addition to TikTok, the call may address broader trade issues. U.S. and Chinese officials have engaged in multiple rounds of trade talks since May, but many challenges remain unresolved. Trump is likely to aim for a favorable narrative in the negotiations, while Xi may highlight China's economic leverage and the need for the U.S. to ease tariffs and sanctions.

The ongoing trade war has significantly impacted U.S. agricultural exports to China, with American farm exports dropping by 53% from January to July compared to the previous year. Farmers are closely monitoring the outcome of the call, as China is a major buyer of U.S. agricultural products. Josh Gackle, chairman of the American Soybean Association, expressed hope that continued dialogue could lead to a resolution.