Donald Trump says he has had a "very good" phone call with Xi Jinping amid their ongoing trade war, during which they agreed to more tariff talks. Trade negotiations between the United States and China stalled shortly after a 12 May agreement between the two countries to reduce their rates on levies while talks took place.

The president’s conversation with Xi comes after it was reported that the White House was desperate to make a breakthrough in the trade talks with Beijing, provoked by those export controls. China controls roughly 90 percent of the world’s production of rare earth minerals, which are critical for industries including automaking and arms production.

President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, have spoken amid stalled negotiations between both countries over tariffs that have roiled global trade