Biden-Xi Phone Call Raises Key Question: Who Will Blink First?
- U.S. frustrated by lack of progress on issues like climate
- China has given the U.S. demands on tariffs, sanctions, Huawei
Joe Biden and Xi Jinping
Photographer: Samuel Corum/Justin Chin/Bloomberg
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After months of little progress in U.S.-China relations, Joe Biden’s frustration led him to initiate a call with Xi Jinping in search of a breakthrough. Now the question is who will be first to take concrete action.
The leaders of the world’s biggest economies spoke by telephone for 90 minutes on Thursday night, their first discussion since February. While the call didn’t produce any immediate announcements, the yuan strengthened to a one-week high amid optimism that any communication could improve overall ties.