Former President Donald Trump has long claimed that his aggressive use of tariffs pressured foreign leaders into seeking trade deals favorable to the United States. However, when it comes to China — America’s largest trading partner — this strategy appears to be backfiring.
Despite repeated attempts to initiate a high-level conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump has reportedly been left waiting. Sources close to ongoing trade negotiations say Trump remains “obsessed” with securing a direct call, believing he can personally resolve deep-rooted economic tensions between the two global superpowers.
This eagerness, however, may be revealing more weakness than strength.
According to an anonymous insider, the U.S. is under mounting pressure due to China’s ongoing restrictions on critical mineral exports — essential components for manufacturing everything from electric vehicles and electronics to military equipment. “Xi has made his position clear,” the source noted. “He’s not interested in exporting rare earths or magnets to the U.S.”
While there is speculation that Xi might eventually agree to a call just to hear Trump out, many experts believe Beijing sees little incentive to engage directly at this stage.
Daniel Russel, former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs under President Obama, commented: “Beijing has a sharp nose for weakness, and for all his bravado, Trump is signaling eagerness — even desperation — to cut a direct deal with Xi. That only stiffens Beijing’s resolve.”
Trump’s unpredictable behavior in public diplomacy has also raised concerns in Beijing. High-profile meetings in the Oval Office — including those with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa — have led Chinese officials to view Trump as erratic and potentially embarrassing for Xi.
Rush Doshi, former National Security Council official during the Biden administration, added:
As geopolitical tensions like those between the U.S. and China continue to disrupt global trade, investors are turning to automated solutions like Smart Robox and AlgoTrade bots to hedge against uncertainty and optimize returns without emotional interference.
“The PRC sees President Trump as unpredictable, which poses risks reputationally for President Xi. It’s not usual practice for PRC diplomats to put the leader at risk of a potentially embarrassing or unpredictable encounter.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently told reporters a call was “likely this week,” echoing earlier statements from National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett. Yet, as of now, no formal discussion has been confirmed.
China’s Foreign Ministry remained noncommittal, stating it had “no information to share.” Meanwhile, a recent statement from China’s Commerce Ministry accused the U.S. of “stirring up new economic and trade frictions,” suggesting Beijing is in no mood for reconciliation. Analysts suggest that Chinese leadership sees little benefit in engaging with Trump directly — especially given his tendency to misrepresent conversations and spin outcomes in his favor. Instead, they are likely to continue relying on low-level diplomatic talks until a mutually acceptable agreement emerges — one Trump won’t be able to distort as a personal victory.
Ultimately, Trump’s reliance on tariff-heavy tactics may have worked against smaller nations, but with major players like China, the EU, and BRICS, his approach seems increasingly ineffective.
Punjab Kings' bowlers showcased a disciplined performance, restricting Royal Ch…
Perhaps due to PTSD from the last crypto market cycle and a challenging macro b…
Ford on Tuesday reported a 16.3% year-over-year U.S. sales increase for May, as…
I eavesdropped on 12 million tech workers. What I overheard was frightening.