Trump calls China deal ‘extremely hard’ amid tensions

June 04, 2025 (MLN): U.S. President Donald Trump stated that it was “extremely hard” to make a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as trade tensions between Washington and Beijing continued to escalate.

The comment comes at a time when the White House has been suggesting that the two leaders might speak this week.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that trade negotiations were “a bit stalled,” adding that intervention from both leaders may be necessary.

Earlier in the week, a senior White House official told CNBC that Trump and Xi were likely to have a call soon, though it remained unclear whether such a conversation had been arranged.

“I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The two countries have traded blame over the breakdown of a trade agreement signed on May 12 in Switzerland, as CNBC reported.

The deal involved a 90-day suspension of most tariffs and the rollback of countermeasures imposed by China since early April.

However, the U.S. says Beijing has not eased restrictions on rare earth exports as expected, while China has criticized the U.S. for advancing efforts to block its access to advanced technology.

Adding to the tensions, the Trump administration recently announced plans to revoke visas for Chinese students.

In response, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a meeting with new U.S. Ambassador David Perdue on Tuesday, condemned recent U.S. actions as “groundless” and said they undermined China’s legitimate rights.

According to the official Chinese readout, Perdue conveyed that Trump had “great respect” for Xi and emphasized the importance of getting U.S.-China relations back on the “right track.”

Wang called for the U.S. to “meet China halfway.”

Neo Wang, lead China economist and strategist at Evercore ISI, interpreted the meeting as a signal that a phone call between Trump and Xi could be imminent.

He noted that China appears to be laying the groundwork to ensure Xi is not embarrassed by unexpected U.S. remarks following any potential conversation.

Trump and Xi last spoke in January, shortly before Trump began his second term.

Though Trump has publicly expressed a desire to reconnect, analysts believe Beijing will only agree to a call if reassured that there will be no surprises.

In a post on X, Ambassador Perdue said he emphasized U.S. priorities on trade, fentanyl, and illegal immigration during his meeting with Wang, and stressed the importance of maintaining communication between the two nations.

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