News of the call came as new data showed U.S. goods imports dropped significantly in April as sweeping tariffs rolled out.

Xi Jinping emphasised China's commitment to past agreements, despite both sides blaming each other for breaches during phone call with his US counterpart Donald Trump.

Earlier this week, China hit back on Trump’s claims the Asian country was in breach of a new trade agreement, struck last month following talks held in Geneva, Switzerland, countering that the U.S. itself was undermining the deal with new sanctions.