US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that it is "extremely difficult" to reach agreements with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on the eve of a new phone call between the two leaders that will once again be marked by the tariff dispute between the two powers.

"I like President Xi, always have, and always will, but he is very tough and extremely difficult to reach agreements with," Trump stated in a message published on Truth Social early in the morning, just hours after the White House confirmed they would speak again this week.

Washington and Beijing agreed to a truce in their escalating tariffs in May, although Trump accused the Asian giant last week of violating its signed commitments and, for the time being, some of the tariffs are on hold until August.

China, however, will be one of the biggest losers from the new 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum announced Tuesday by the US magnate.

The two governments have also exchanged reproaches in recent days over other political decisions, including the Trump administration's announcement that it would begin withdrawing visas for Chinese students.