Topline
Chinese authorities on Monday accused the U.S. of violating a recent trade pact that both agreed to in Geneva last month, as they dismissed President Donald Trump’s allegation about Beijing breaching the agreement, a move that could signal a further escalation in trade tensions between the two countries, which could potentially jeopardize last month’s tariff truce.
China’s Commerce Ministry accused the U.S. of violating a trade deal agreed in Geneva by imposing … More
Key Facts
In a press briefing, a Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson dismissed Trump’s comments accusing China of violating the agreement, saying Beijing has worked “to strictly implement and actively safeguard the Geneva deal.”
The spokesperson noted that China had acted in accordance with the deal to cancel or suspend “relevant tariffs and non-tariff measures” it had taken as retaliation against the U.S. government’s reciprocal tariffs.
The spokesperson then accused the U.S. of introducing “ a number of discriminatory restrictive measures against China” after the talks, citing expanded export controls on AI chips and other chip-building technology.
The official also criticized the U.S. government’s crackdown on Chinese student visas, saying these actions violated the consensus reached between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in a phone call on January 17.
The spokesperson then warned that if the U.S. continues to take actions that damage China, Beijing will “take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”
What Had Trump Said About China Violating The Geneva Deal?
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday, Trump said: “China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US,” without specifying how it had done so. The president then signalled that the U.S. may retaliate against this alleged non-compliance, saying: “So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!” In his post, the president claimed his tariffs had put China in “grave economic danger” and he made a “FAST DEAL” in Geneva, “in order to save them from what I thought was going to be a very bad situation.”
What Do We Know About The Current State Of U.s.-China Trade Talks?
In an interview with Fox News last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged that trade talks with China were “a bit stalled,” but said he believes U.S. officials will be “having more talks with them in the next few weeks.” Bessent did not specify any sticking points that have prevented the talks from progressing, but noted that he believes a direct call between Trump and Xi will be needed to close the deal. “I think that given the magnitude of the talks, given the complexity, that this is going to require both leaders to weigh in with each other,” the treasury secretary said. Bessent then added that Trump and Xi have a “very good relationship” and he was “confident that the Chinese will come to the table when President Trump makes his preferences known.”
