Trump calls Xi tough negotiator as US-China trade tensions resurface

Wednesday 04 June 2025 - 14:04

By: Zahouani Ilham

Trump calls Xi tough negotiator as US-China trade tensions resurface

US President Donald Trump has described Chinese President Xi Jinping as a difficult counterpart in trade negotiations, expressing frustration over China’s recent actions that have reignited tensions between the two economic giants.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “I like President Xi of China, always have and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH.” His remarks follow growing friction over the implementation of a recent tariff agreement.

Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Trump’s intention to engage in direct talks with Xi to resolve outstanding differences concerning the May trade deal, as well as broader economic issues.

In May, both countries reached a surprising deal in Geneva, which significantly lowered tariffs: US tariffs on Chinese goods were reduced from 145% to 30%, while China dropped its tariffs on US products from 125% to 10%. The agreement was seen as a positive development that helped calm global markets.

However, China’s Ministry of Commerce has accused the US of breaching the agreement. In a statement, the ministry claimed Washington undermined the deal by restricting access to key technologies for Chinese companies, blocking Huawei’s chip usage, and revoking student visas for Chinese nationals. These moves, it said, violated the consensus reached in an earlier phone call between Trump and Xi in January.

Trump previously criticized China on social media, alleging that Beijing had “totally” violated the agreement, though he did not provide details. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer later explained that China failed to remove certain non-tariff trade barriers, which was a key part of the agreement.

Further complicating matters, a US trade court recently ruled that Trump had exceeded his authority in imposing most of the original tariffs under emergency powers. However, a federal appeals court quickly reinstated the tariffs while considering an appeal from the government.