Trump Says Xi Is “Extremely Hard to Make a Deal With” as US-China Trade Tensions Flare Up Again

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In this update on U.S.-China relations, former President Donald Trump portrays Chinese President Xi Jinping as “extremely hard to make a deal with,” underscoring renewed trade frictions between the world’s two largest economies. Following a rare phone call—their first since Trump’s return to office—the two leaders agreed to a temporary 90-day tariff reduction (U.S. duties on Chinese goods trimmed from 145% to 30%, and China’s levies on U.S. exports cut from 125% to 10%). Despite this respite, deep-seated disputes remain over critical minerals, advanced chip restrictions, and broader technology competition. With an August 12 deadline looming—when suspended tariffs could snap back—both Washington’s push for reshored manufacturing and Beijing’s drive to dominate sectors like electric vehicles and AI face a high-stakes test.