Trump says China wants to buy US oil as trade thaw gathers pace after Xi talks – Firstpost

US President Donald Trump said China wants to buy American oil and agricultural commodities, signalling a potential easing in trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies after high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Speaking in an interview aired on Fox News, Trump said China had expressed interest in ramping up purchases of US crude oil, with shipments expected from major American energy-producing states.

“They’ve agreed they want to buy oil from the United States, they’re going to go to Texas, we’re going to start sending Chinese ships to Texas and to Louisiana and to Alaska,” Trump said.

The remarks come as Washington and Beijing seek tangible commercial outcomes from an ongoing summit aimed at stabilising relations after years of tariff battles, export controls and geopolitical friction.

Trump also said China was interested in buying more American soybeans, another politically sensitive export that had been caught in the crossfire of the earlier US-China trade war. China had sharply reduced soybean purchases from the United States after retaliatory tariffs imposed during Trump’s previous term, shifting much of its imports to Brazil.

Any revival in Chinese demand for US energy and farm products could provide a boost to American exporters, particularly oil producers and Midwestern farmers, sectors that have been hit by fluctuating global demand and prolonged trade uncertainty.

According to US government data, China imported around 237.8 million barrels of US crude oil and petroleum products in 2025, down 25 per cent from a year earlier. Crude oil exports alone plunged about 95 per cent from 2023 levels to roughly 8.4 million barrels last year.

At the same time, China remains the largest buyer of Iranian crude, accounting for nearly 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports. Beijing imported around 1.4 million barrels per day of Iranian oil in 2025, according to US estimates.

Trump said discussions with Xi also touched on West Asian security issues, including the ongoing tensions involving Iran. He claimed China had agreed not to provide military equipment to Tehran and would support efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to global shipping.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply passes. Any disruption to the route has the potential to sharply impact global crude prices and energy markets.

China’s foreign ministry said on Friday that the two leaders had reached “a series of new consensus” during the talks, including an agreement to pursue “constructive, strategic stability” in bilateral ties over the next three years and beyond.

Beijing also reiterated support for reopening shipping lanes in the Gulf region and called for a “comprehensive and lasting ceasefire” to restore stability in West Asia.

Trade and market access featured prominently in the discussions as well. Trump said he raised the issue of greater access for Visa to China’s financial services market, while also pushing for increased Chinese purchases of American passenger aircraft and agricultural products.

The summit, which combines ceremonial diplomacy with hard-nosed commercial negotiations, also underscored persistent strategic tensions between the two powers.

Chinese officials warned that mishandling the Taiwan issue could seriously damage bilateral relations. The comments come months after Trump approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, although delivery has yet to move forward.

Trump, however, struck a positive tone on his personal engagement with Xi, describing the Chinese leader as direct and pragmatic.

“He’s all business,” Trump said in the Fox News interview. “There’s no games. There’s no talking about how nice the weather is.”