Trump says it is “very difficult” to reach an agreement with China Xi Jinping

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that it was “extremely difficult” to reach a deal with his Chinese counterpart, XI Jinping, when the White House had been hinting that the two leaders could talk this week as trade tensions escalate.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that trade talks were “a bit stagnant” and leaders of the two countries may need to weigh the trade-offs. On Monday, senior White House officials told CNBC that Trump and XI could speak this week.

It is not clear whether such a call has been arranged.

Trump wrote in “Social Truth”: “I like Xi Jinping in China, always and always, but he is very difficult and difficult to interact with him!!!”

Washington and Beijing blame each other for violating the trade agreement reached in Switzerland on May 12. The deal includes a 90-day moratorium on most tariffs and a widespread abolition of China's U.S. trade countermeasures to the U.S. that China has implemented since early April.

Contrary to what Washington expects, China has not significantly relaxed restrictions on rare earth exports. Beijing also criticized the U.S. efforts to limit China's access to advanced technology. Last week, the Trump administration also announced that it would begin revoking visas for Chinese students.

During a first meeting with new U.S. ambassador David Perdue on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Trump administration’s recent “negative measures” were based on “unfounded reasons” and undermined China’s legitimate rights and interests.

Among readers, the Chinese authorities quoted Perdue as saying that Trump had “great respect” for Xi Jinping, while calling on the United States to “see China halfway” and work together to bring bilateral relations back to the “right path.”

“It's obviously in Beijing trying to make the impression that Trump wants to talk. Beijing does so publicly suggests the phone is approaching,” said Neo Wang, chief Chinese economist and strategist at Evercore ISI.

He said the meeting between Perdue and China's top diplomats planned to build the trust that Beijing needs, “so that Xi will not be embarrassed by Trump calling with words or actions.”

Trump and Xi Jinping spoke last time in January, just before the U.S. president was sworn in for the second term. Although Trump said in recent weeks that he wanted to talk to XI, analysts hope China agrees that the United States will not be surprised during the call only if it is certain.

In a post on X late Tuesday, the U.S. ambassador stressed that he stressed Wang's priorities in trade, fentanyl and illegal immigration, and the importance of maintaining bilateral exchanges between the two countries.