President Donald Trump on Wednesday voiced frustration over stalled trade negotiations with China, describing Chinese President Xi Jinping as “extremely hard to make a deal with.”
His remark comes at a delicate moment, as the White House signals openness to a leader-to-leader call aimed at resolving rising tariff tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
“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 posted on Truth Social, casting doubt on the likelihood of meaningful progress if the two leaders eventually connect.
Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 19 (Feb 9 – May 2, 2026): big discounts for early bird.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and co-invest in great global startups.
Register for Tekedia AI Lab: From Technical Design to Deployment (next edition begins Jan 24 2026).
The statement marked a stark contrast to the more optimistic tone from White House officials earlier in the week, who said a call between Trump and Xi could happen soon. But as of Wednesday, there was no confirmation that such a conversation had been scheduled.
Trump’s comments are believed to be a reflection of growing pessimism in Washington about the prospects of breaking the deadlock. His public expression of doubt has also cast a shadow over expectations that direct talks with Xi might help untangle the web of tit-for-tat tariffs and retaliatory measures that have rattled global markets.
On May 12, the two sides reached a temporary agreement in Switzerland to suspend most tariffs for 90 days and roll back China’s countermeasures, offering a brief window of relief. However, that truce has all but collapsed. The Trump administration accuses China of failing to honor its commitments, including a promise to ease restrictions on rare earth exports—key materials in electronics and defense industries.
Meanwhile, Beijing has not backed down from its position. Chinese officials have repeatedly stated that they will not yield to pressure from Washington. Foreign Minister Wang Yi reinforced that message during his meeting this week with U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue, saying the Trump administration’s actions have been based on “groundless reasons” and violate China’s legitimate interests.
While Beijing did acknowledge Trump’s “respect” for Xi—according to the Chinese readout of the meeting—there is no indication that China is preparing to make major concessions.
American business leaders, too, are under no illusion that China will backpedal under U.S. pressure. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, in a recent comment, said: “China is a potential adversary. They’re doing a lot of things well. They have a lot of problems. But they’re not scared, folks. This notion that they’re going to come bow to America—I wouldn’t count on that.”
Dimon’s assessment mirrors the broader view among U.S. industry insiders that China’s negotiating posture remains firm and strategic. As the two countries navigate this increasingly tense terrain, many agree the tariff dispute is far from resolution.
Even as Trump continues to express interest in speaking with Xi, something he has repeated in recent weeks, analysts believe China will only agree to a high-level call if there’s confidence that it won’t be followed by sudden reversals or inflammatory rhetoric from the White House.
Trump and Xi last spoke in January, just before Trump was inaugurated for his second term. Since then, the atmosphere has shifted significantly, with Washington ramping up export restrictions on Chinese access to advanced technologies and revoking visas for some Chinese students.
Presently, the hope that a phone call between the two leaders could break the deadlock appears dim. As Trump’s own words suggest, any breakthrough—if it happens at all—will be a long and uncertain walk through a minefield of competing interests, unresolved grievances, and strategic mistrust.