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Donald Trump has described Xi Jinping as “extremely hard to make a deal with” as the two countries face off over claims from the US that China is reneging on a trade truce signed in Geneva last month.
“I like President Xi of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!” the US president said on his Truth Social platform.
It was not immediately clear if Trump’s comments were in response to recent direct contact with Xi.
The comments follow accusations from Washington last week that China is failing to live up to a promise to approve licences for exports of rare earths, leading to shortages that are threatening to shut down parts of US industry.
China in turn accused the US this week of “seriously violating” the trade truce that the two economic powers agreed in Switzerland.
This is a developing story
