Former U.S. President Donald Trump described Chinese President Xi Jinping as “a very tough person to negotiate with,” in a new statement posted on Truth Social, amid rising tensions between Washington and Beijing despite a recently agreed tariff truce.
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“I like President Xi—I always have, and I still do—but he is very tough, and it's very hard to make any deal with him!!!” Trump wrote.
His remarks come after trade talks meant to usher in a new phase of cooperation between the two global powers stalled, despite a 90-day truce deal signed in Geneva last month to temporarily freeze mutual tariffs.
Mutual Accusations Amid Stalled Talks
Trump accused China of violating the agreement, while Beijing denied the claims, instead accusing the United States of undermining mutual understandings through recent actions, particularly in technology and education sectors.
Delayed Phone Call Between Leaders
Although a phone call between Trump and Xi was expected to revive momentum, it has not yet taken place.
Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the call would "likely happen this week," while Treasury Secretary Scott Peasent expressed hope that key issues could be resolved during a near-future conversation.
However, China’s Foreign Ministry responded that it had “no information” regarding any such call.
Escalating Sanctions and Restrictions
On the ground, tensions have continued to rise:
The U.S. doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50%.
Restrictions were imposed on companies using AI chips from Chinese tech giant Huawei.
Visa limitations were introduced targeting Chinese students with ties to the Communist Party or sensitive scientific fields.
In response, China maintained export controls on rare earth minerals—crucial to electronics, electric vehicles, and defense industries—a move the Trump administration views as retaliatory.
Diplomatic Engagement in Beijing
Amid these tensions, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with new U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue in Beijing, urging Washington to “return relations to the right track.”
Responding to Trump’s comments, China’s Foreign Ministry reiterated that its stance on relations with the U.S. remains consistent and clear.
