Just a month after U.S. President Donald Trump hailed ¡°progress¡± in talks with China, the world¡¯s two most powerful nations are scrambling to salvage a planned summit of their leaders, now just a week away, while trading blame for a spike in tensions.

Even if the talks between Trump and President Xi Jinping can be put back on track, experts say each side¡¯s belief that it has the upper hand, coupled with China¡¯s tougher posture, makes a narrow deal on a few issues the most likely outcome.

¡°China believes negotiations alone are insufficient and that effective countermeasures against the United States are necessary to prevent the U.S. from exerting pressure,¡± said Wu Xinbo, an expert on ties between the two biggest economies.