Mr. Trump said in a post on Truth Social that his call with Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, had focused entirely on the trade relationship between the nations, which has soured in recent months in a dispute over the export of critical minerals used in an array of industries.

Trump and Xi spoke to revive stalled US-China trade talks as tariffs roil markets. Trump calls Xi “tough,” while key disagreements on tech and trade policy persist.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday it is "extremely hard" to reach a deal with China over a trade impasse that has roiled global markets, while his doubling of metal