WASHINGTON, June  4, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Donald Trump said Wednesday it was
"extremely hard" to reach a deal with China, but EU and US officials touted
progress in their own trade talks despite the US president doubling his metal
tariffs.

Trump's latest salvos came as ministers from Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries gathered in Paris to discuss the
outlook for the world economy in light of the trade war.

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 that Trump will speak to Chinese President Xi
Jinping this week, raising hopes they can soothe tensions and speed up a trade
deal between the world's two biggest economies.

However, early on Wednesday, 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.

Asked about the remarks during a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign
ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing's "principles and stance on developing Sino-US relations are consistent."

China was the main target of Trump's April tariff blitz, hit with levies of
145 percent on its goods and triggering tit-for-tat tariffs of 125 percent on
US imports.

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

- US-EU talks 'advancing quickly' -

Trump's latest remarks came hours after he increased his tariffs on
aluminium and steel from 25 percent to 50 percent, raising temperatures with
various partners while exempting Britain from the higher levy.

In addition, EU goods will be hit with 50-percent tariffs on July 9 unless
the 27-nation bloc reaches a deal with Washington. The EU has vowed to
retaliate.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said after talks with EU counterpart
Maros Sefcovic in Paris that the negotiations were "advancing quickly."

Greer said the meeting was "very constructive and indicates a willingness
by the EU to work with us to find a concrete way forward to achieve reciprocal
trade."

Sefcovic said the doubling of metal tariffs "doesn't help the negotiations"
but the two sides were nonetheless "making progress" in their negotiations.

"We did very much focus on these negotiations, and I still believe in
them," Sefcovic said at a news conference after meeting Greer on the sidelines
of the OECD gathering in Paris.

He said he was optimistic that a "positive result" could be reached.

The US-EU meeting took place a day after the OECD cut its forecast for
global economic growth, blaming Trump's tariff blitz for the downgrade.

"We have to keep our cool and always show that the introduction of these
tariffs is in no one's interest," French trade minister Laurent Saint-Martin
said.

After talks between UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Greer on
Tuesday, London said that imports from the UK would remain at 25 percent 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.

- White House wants offers -

Mexico will request an exemption from the higher tariff, Economy Minister
Marcelo Ebrard said, arguing that it was unfair because the United States
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," Ebrard said.

Mexico is highly vulnerable to Trump's trade wars because 80 percent of its
exports go to the United States, its main partner.

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

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday that the
Trump administration sent letters to governments pushing for offers by
Wednesday as the July 9 deadline approaches.