Trump said one day earlier that it was difficult to reach a deal with Xi: “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 wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday.

Xi Jinping has told Donald Trump that the United States should rescind its “negative measures” against China and conduct trade talks in a spirit of mutual respect. The two leaders spoke on Thursday for the first time since January, China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported, adding that the call was at Mr Trump’s request.