Trump Calls Xi ‘Very Tough’ As US-China Trade Deal Stalls
President Donald Trump on Wednesday described Chinese President Xi Jinping as “very tough” and “extremely hard to make a deal with,” days after accusing the Chinese government of violating a recent trade agreement reached in Geneva.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump voiced admiration for Chinese President Xi Jinping but also expressed frustration over the lack of progress in trade negotiations between the two countries.
“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.
Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump planned to speak directly with Xi in an effort to resolve disputes stemming from last month’s Geneva pact, which aimed to de-escalate the ongoing U.S.-China trade war.
Tensions have mounted following a U.S. trade court’s ruling last week that Trump had overstepped his authority in imposing sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports under emergency powers.
But a federal appeals court quickly paused that ruling, reinstating the tariffs pending the government’s appeal.
In an interview last week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged that talks had stalled and said only direct intervention from both leaders could break the deadlock.
“Given the magnitude and complexity of the talks, this is going to require both leaders to weigh in,” Bessent told Fox News.
Despite the current tension, he added that Trump and Xi have a “very good relationship,” and expressed confidence that “the Chinese will come to the table when President Trump makes his preferences known.”
White House economic adviser Kevin Hasse also told ABC News on Sunday he expects Trump will have “a wonderful conversation” with Xi about moving negotiations forward.
Trump has repeatedly criticised China over its handling of the Geneva agreement.
In a post last week, he claimed that “China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, has totally violated its agreement with us. So much for being Mr. Nice Guy!”
Trump claimed his tariffs had left China in “grave economic danger” and said he agreed to a “fast deal” in Geneva to prevent further fallout.
China has firmly denied violating the agreement. On Monday, the Chinese Commerce Ministry in a statement said China has been working to “strictly implement and actively safeguard the Geneva deal.”
The Ministry said China held up its end of the deal, cancelling or suspending tariffs and non-tariff measures taken against the U.S. “reciprocal tariffs” following the agreement.
“The United States has unilaterally provoked new economic and trade frictions, exacerbating the uncertainty and instability of bilateral economic and trade relations,” the statement added.
It also threatened unspecified retaliation, saying China will “continue to take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”
They accused the United States of breaching the pact by imposing new restrictions, including expanded export controls on AI chips and tightened visa rules targeting Chinese students.
The Geneva agreement, reached after weeks of back-and-forth, included a 90-day truce in the trade war and a mutual reduction in tariffs, from 125% to 10% on most goods.
However, a separate 20% U.S. tariff tied to China’s alleged role in the fentanyl crisis remains in place, putting the effective tariff rate at 30% on Chinese imports.
Trump Calls Xi ‘Very Tough’ As US-China Trade Deal Stalls is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
