U.S. President Donald Trump expressed on Wednesday that it was proving to be “extremely hard” to reach a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping amidst escalating trade tensions. The White House had hinted at the possibility of the two leaders holding talks this week, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned on Thursday that the trade negotiations seemed to have hit a roadblock and that the involvement of both leaders might be necessary. While there were reports that Trump and Xi were expected to have a conversation this week, it was still uncertain if such a call had been scheduled.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump acknowledged his respect for President Xi but emphasized the challenges in negotiating with him, describing him as “VERY TOUGH” and “EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH.” The trade dispute between the U.S. and China stemmed from accusations of each party violating a trade agreement reached in Switzerland on May 12. The deal had entailed a 90-day suspension of most tariffs and the removal of trade countermeasures imposed by China against the U.S. since April.
However, tensions persisted as China did not relax restrictions on rare earths exports as anticipated by the U.S. Additionally, Washington proceeded with efforts to limit China’s access to advanced technology, prompting criticism from Beijing. The Trump administration further announced its intention to revoke visas for Chinese students, escalating the trade conflict.
During a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the new U.S. Ambassador David Perdue, China accused the Trump administration of implementing “negative measures” based on unfounded reasons, which undermined China’s legitimate rights and interests. The official readout highlighted Perdue’s assertion of Trump’s respect for Xi and urged the U.S. to collaborate with China to restore bilateral relations to a positive trajectory.
Analysts speculated that Beijing’s public acknowledgment of the need for a conversation indicated an imminent phone call between Trump and Xi. It was suggested that the meeting between Perdue and Wang aimed to establish trust with Beijing to prevent any potential embarrassment to Xi during the call. While Trump had expressed his desire to communicate with Xi, China was likely to agree to the call only if assurances were given that there would be no surprises from the U.S. side.
In a post on X, the U.S. ambassador reiterated the importance of trade, fentanyl, and illegal immigration issues, emphasizing the necessity of ongoing bilateral communication between the two nations. As the trade tensions continued to escalate, the prospect of a dialogue between Trump and Xi remained uncertain, with both sides navigating the complexities of the negotiations to reach a mutually beneficial resolution.
