President Trump said China's Xi agreed to resume rare earth mineral exports to the U.S. after an April halt, marking progress in trade negotiations between the two countries.

In the early hours of Wednesday, Donald Trump declared that Xi Jinping was “VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!” Some 36 hours later, the US leader said he got what he wanted: A commitment to restore the flow of rare earth magnets.

Even the president appears to be doubting his strategy to win over Beijing, as relations fray between the trading partners.