U.S. President Donald Trump said he will speak to China's President Xi Jinping and hopefully work out their differences on trade and tariffs, after earlier on Friday accusing Beijing of violating an agreement with Washington.

President Trump said at a rally in Pennsylvania on Friday that he is going to double tariffs on steel imports from 25% to 50%. The hike, the president said, "will even further secure the steel industry in the United States.

Chinese President Xi Jinping conducted a five-day diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia, visiting Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia from April 14 to 18. The strategically timed visit, Xi’s first overseas trip of the year,

Xi’s self-styled image as a leader with absolute authority has roots in his formative years as the son of a revolutionary hero.

Trump did not specify how China violated the agreement. A U.S. official said China appeared to be moving slowly on promises to issue export licenses for rare-earth minerals.

Following tariffs pause with Beijing, Trump has cracked down on Chinese students and access to advanced computer chips.

The Xi Jinping-led nation has requested the United States to “fully cancel the wrongful unilateral tariff measures,” as per a report by RTHK on Thursday. This plea follows a U.S. federal court’s obstruction of most of President Donald Trump‘s extensive tariffs.