Trump and Xi talk on phone as tariff battle continues

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Xinping held a phone call Thursday amid ongoing tensions between the two superpowers.

Chinese state media and the Chinese foreign ministry said that the call happened at the White House’s request. No other information was immediately made public. The Chinese foreign ministry said Thursday morning that the call was ongoing as of 9 a.m. ET.

Trump had posted to social media early Wednesday about his frustrations with the state of talks.

“I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!” Trump wrote at 2:17 a.m.

Stocks ticked higher in pre-market trading upon news of the call.

The U.S. and China have been locked in a heated trade war since the early days of Trump’s second administration, with volleys of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs ratcheting up duties on billions of dollars worth of goods.

The White House and the Chinese embassy did not immediately return requests for comment.