Rash Doshi, former deputy director for China and Taiwan at the National Security Council, told Politico: "China views Trump as unpredictable, posing reputational risks for Xi Jinping. It is not typical for Chinese officials to expose a leader to the risk of a potentially awkward or unpredictable meeting."

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that China's President Xi Jinping was "extremely hard to make a deal with," the latest comment from officials expressing frustration with striking a trade agreement.