WASHINGTON/BEIJING: Trade tensions are heating up again as former U.S. President Donald Trump accused China of violating the recent tariff truce, prompting a firm response from Beijing urging the U.S. to “cease discriminatory restrictions.”
Trump Says China Broke Deal, Offers No Details
In a fiery post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed that China had “totally violated its agreement” from earlier this month. Though short on specifics, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer later clarified that China had failed to lift certain non-tariff barriers as agreed during Geneva negotiations.
Greer accused China of “slow-rolling” compliance, citing continued restrictions on U.S. firms and exports of key materials like rare earth magnets, essential for tech and defense industries.
China Pushes Back, Cites U.S. Tech Restrictions
China’s response avoided directly addressing Trump’s claims, but a spokesperson for its Washington embassy criticized the U.S. for its “abuse of export control measures” and urged Washington to uphold the Geneva consensus. China pointed to the recent suspension of advanced chip and machinery exports to Chinese firms as proof of U.S. backtracking.
Pengyu Liu, a Chinese diplomat, said both sides had remained in contact since the May 11 Geneva summit, but admitted that talks had since stalled.
Deal in Jeopardy Despite Initial Progress
The original deal saw both nations reduce tariffs—U.S. rates dropped from 145% to 30%, while China cut retaliatory tariffs from 125% to 10%. However, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent admitted talks had “lost momentum,” though he remained hopeful for further discussions between Trump and President Xi Jinping.
Meanwhile, Trump’s global tariff regime is under legal scrutiny, with a U.S. court ruling that he exceeded his authority—though a federal appeals court has temporarily reinstated the policy pending further review.
Student Visas, Export Bans Add Fuel to Fire
Adding to the tensions, the Trump administration also moved this week to aggressively revoke visas of Chinese students in the U.S., reportedly affecting up to 280,000 individuals. Analysts warn these moves may strain diplomacy and deter future trade deals.
