Trump says ‘extremely hard’ to do deal with China’s Xi as steel tariffs double

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said on June 4 that it was “extremely hard” to reach a deal with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, as he ramped up his global trade war by doubling tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.

The comments and higher levies came as Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) ministers gathered to discuss the outlook for the world economy in the light of the United States’ hardball approach to trade that has rattled world markets.

Mr Trump’s sweeping tariffs on allies and adversaries

have strained ties with trading partners and sparked a flurry of negotiations to avoid the duties.

The White House has suggested the President will speak to Mr Xi this week, raising hopes they can soothe tensions and speed up a trade deal between the world’s two biggest economies.

However, in the early hours of June 4, Mr Trump appeared to dampen hopes for a quick deal.

“I like President Xi of China, always have, and always will, but he is very tough, and extremely hard to make a deal with!!!” he posted on his Truth Social platform.

China was the main target of Mr Trump’s April 2 tariff blitz, hit with levies of 145 per cent on its goods and triggering tit-for-tat tariffs of 125 per cent on US goods.

Both sides agreed to temporarily de-escalate in May, after the US President delayed most sweeping measures on other countries until July 9.

His latest remarks came hours after his tariffs on aluminium and steel were doubled from 25 per cent to 50 per cent, raising temperatures with various partners.

The Paris-based OECD, a 38-nation grouping of mostly developed countries, cut its global growth forecast on the back of Mr Trump’s levies, as ministers of the group held a meeting on June 3 and June 4.

Trade, consumption and investment have been affected by the tariffs, OECD chief economist Alvaro Pereira earlier told AFP, and

warned that the US economy will suffer

the most.

Appeals process

While some of Mr Trump’s most sweeping levies face legal challenges, they have been allowed to remain in place for now as an appeals process takes place.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and European Union trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic are set to hold talks on the sidelines of the gathering, with the bloc seeking to stave off higher levies ahead of the July 9 deadline.

With the latest US tolls on steel and aluminium kicking in, the EU said it “strongly regrets” the decision to double the levies, cautioning that it “undermines ongoing efforts to reach a negotiated solution” with the US and warning it was ready to retaliate.

French Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin added: “We have to keep our cool and always show that the introduction of these tariffs is in no one’s interest.”

Canada, the largest supplier of the metals to the US, has called Mr Trump’s tariffs “illegal and unjustified”.

After talks between UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Mr Greer on June 3, London said imports from the UK would remain at 25 per cent for now.

Both sides needed to work out duties and quotas in line with the terms of a recently signed trade pact.

“We’re pleased that as a result of our agreement with the US, UK steel will not be subject to these additional tariffs,” a British government spokesperson said.

The Group of Seven advanced economies – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US – are due to hold separate talks on trade on June 4.

“We need to come up with negotiated solutions as quickly as possible, because time is running out,” German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said on June 3 on the sidelines of the OECD.

Mexico will request an exemption from the higher tariff, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said, arguing that it was unfair because the US exports more steel to its southern neighbour than it imports.

“It makes no sense to put a tariff on a product in which you have a surplus,” Mr Ebrard said.

Mexico is highly vulnerable to Mr Trump’s trade wars because 80 per cent of its exports go to the US, its main partner.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on June 3 that the Trump administration sent letters to governments pushing for offers by June 4 as the July 9 deadline approached. AFP