Linggong Kong
Although China and the United States reached a 90-day truce on tariffs during talks in Geneva on May 12, trade negotiations between the two countries are still ongoing. As many observers have noted, deep-rooted and structural differences between the two sides continue to cast a shadow over the prospects for any meaningful agreement.
On May 29, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent told reporters that trade talks with China had stalled. He suggested that a phone call between the two leaders might be necessary to break the deadlock. That same morning, President Donald Trump took to social media to accuse China of failing to honor his goodwill and having “totally violated its agreement with us.” Trump indicated he was very frustrated, writing “So much for being Mr. Nice Guy!”
As talks have hit a wall, the Trump administration has taken several steps outside the negotiating table to increase pressure on Beijing. These include tightening restrictions on tech exports to China and stepping up scrutiny of Chinese students applying for U.S. visas. While these measures are in line with Trump’s hardline stance on China, they also appear to be calculated moves aimed at boosting the United States’ leverage at the negotiating table.
In response, China may consider countermeasures such as restricting rare earth exports or strengthening ties with the European Union to push back against U.S. pressure and expand its own diplomatic room to maneuver.
Uncertainty and Friction Hang Over China-U.S. Trade Talks
The United States and China face deep-rooted, structural conflicts over trade issues such as currency manipulation, export subsidies, and other non-tariff barriers. Any negotiations between them are inherently difficult, and the outlook is far from optimistic.
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