USA -U.S. President Donald Trump has accused China of violating a mutual agreement to roll back tariffs and trade restrictions on critical minerals, suggesting that China was in "grave economic danger" until he agreed to strike a deal earlier this month.
Posting on his Truth Social platform on Friday evening, Trump said he made a "fast deal" with China in which both countries agreed to suspend triple-digit tariffs for 90 days to “save” Beijing from what he described as a “very bad situation.”
The president claimed that U.S. tariffs of up to 145 percent on Chinese imports had made it “virtually impossible” for China to trade with the American market, leading to factory closures and “civil unrest” within China.
“China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!” Trump wrote.
Trump did not specify how China had allegedly violated the agreement — which was reached following trade talks in Geneva, Switzerland, in mid-May — nor did he indicate what actions he intended to take in response.
When asked by reporters about the deal later on Friday in the Oval Office, Trump said, “I’m sure that I’ll speak to [China’s] President Xi [Jinping], and hopefully we’ll work that out.”
Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, told reporters that China’s failure to fulfill its obligations “opens up all manner of action for the United States to ensure future compliance.” He added that Trump hopes China will open its markets to American businesses in the same way the U.S. has long been open to Chinese enterprises.
In response, China’s embassy in Washington said Beijing has maintained communication with U.S. counterparts since the Geneva talks but expressed concern over recent U.S. export controls. “China has repeatedly raised concerns with the U.S. regarding its abuse of export control measures in the semiconductor sector and other related practices,” said embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu in a statement. (Aljazeera)
