Xi cool to Trump's entreaties

Even the US president appears to be doubting his strategy to win over China’s Xi Jinping, as relations fray between the trading partners, write Jenny Leonard and Josh Xiao from Washington and Singapore

- Jenny Leonard and Josh Xiao

President Donald Trump is positioning a personal discussion with his Chinese counterpart as the key to preventing the world’s largest economies from spiraling deeper into their trade and technology fight.

But Chinese leader Xi Jinping is making clear that a phone call doesn't come without a price — a resolute stand so far that’s apparently keeping Trump up late at night.

“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 at around 2:17 am in Washington. His complaint came after a flurry of US officials claimed this week the two men were set to speak.

Exactly what the Chinese are asking the White House to relinquish in order to secure the one-on-one remains unclear. But the US president's unanswered pleas are looking more like a standoff without an off ramp.

Beijing, meanwhile, is making overtures in the direction of Europe, which is engaged in its own tariff dispute with Trump.

“If China doesn’t want a call, it could be that they don’t intend to comply or are intentionally holding their cards for the time being,” said Kelly Ann Shaw, a partner at Akin Gump and former senior adviser to Trump during his first term. “If there isn’t a call, I would expect further escalation in the bilateral relationship before things de-escalate again.”

At the heart of the stalemate is a mismatch in negotiating styles that, if it continues, threatens to derail the bilateral relationship.

A 'DISCONNECT'

While Trump wants to hash things out with his counterpart, Chinese officials are reluctant to commit before working out deliverables at lower levels. Oval Office showdowns with the leaders of South Africa and Ukraine in recent weeks have likely offered little reassurance to Beijing to accept Trump's terms.