Trump accuses China of breaching trade agreement amid tariff turmoil

The Washington Post ^ | May 29, 2025 5:05 p.m. EDT | Rachel Lerman

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The bilateral deal appears to be on thin ice.

President Donald Trump accused China twice on Friday of breaching the countries’ trade agreement, in a sign that negotiations to de-escalate a trade embargo are going poorly.

Trump said in an afternoon news conference that China had “violated a big part of the agreement we made,” echoing comments made earlier in the day on his social media site.

“The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!” Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday morning.

China and the United States struck a deal this month, after negotiations in Geneva, to dramatically lower the escalating tariff rates on goods shipped between the two countries, which had ratcheted up to levels so high that they effectively amounted to an embargo on trade. Under Trump’s aggressive international trade policy, the U.S. had imposed tariff rates of about 145 percent on goods from China, its second-largest trading partner. China responded with retaliatory tariffs.

The agreement between the two countries, which put a 90-day pause on the highest tariff rates, was seen as at least temporary relief for businesses and consumers struggling with uncertainty and the threat of rising prices from the trade war.

Trump did not elaborate Friday on what part of the agreement specifically Beijing may have breached. But it could come down to the restriction of certain exports between the countries. On CNBC on Friday morning, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said China has not resumed some exports of rare-earth materials, which are used to make things such as military drones, consumer electronics and battery-powered vehicles.

“We haven’t seen the flow of some of those critical minerals as they were...

[ifinnegan]

In other news, Sun came up in the east this morning.

[frank ballenger]

China’s breach of the deal....

By William Shakespeare
(from Henry V, spoken by King Henry)

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour’d rage;

[Brian Griffin]

Dear Xi:

A little problem has come up. I’m very sorry to trouble you over this small matter, but the problem does need to be resolved....

[rottweiller_inc]

I’m guessing China is smart enough to realize those very same rare earths are needed to build up the western military who are so belligerently,(in the eyes of China), preparing for war against China.

[Varsity Flight]

We’ll go to the One, sleeping in the back of the ⛵ boat first, saying “Peace be still.” 📖

[LibertyFound]

Exactly.

China joined WTO in 2001 & has not abided by a single agreement. They even invented new ways to steal US tech & market share. For example, the JV structure when investing in China requires US companies to surrender their technology & train Chinese workers with the advanced equipment.

Five years later, like clockwork, the Chinese come out with a copycat product, and dump it at fractional prices.

[frank ballenger]

Blessed advice.