President Donald Trump isn’t mincing words: China’s playing dirty with a critical trade deal. He claims Beijing’s backtracking on promises made during a 90-day tariff truce, accusing them of stalling talks and choking off vital rare earth mineral exports.
The Daily Wire reported that two weeks ago, Trump struck a swift agreement to ease punishing U.S. tariffs, aiming to stabilize China’s faltering economy while advancing broader trade talks.
This deal, part of ongoing negotiations for a larger pact, saw both nations lower tariffs to 10%, effective May 14, with a 90-day window to hammer out details. But China’s compliance, especially on mineral exports, has been more promise than action.
Trump’s tariffs had China reeling, with factories shuttering and civil unrest bubbling. He says the high tariffs made it nearly impossible for Beijing to trade in the U.S., the world’s top market.
“I made a FAST DEAL with China to save them,” Trump declared. That deal, he insists, brought stability—until China reneged. So much for gratitude; actions have consequences, and Beijing’s learning that the hard way.
The tariff truce was meant to be a ceasefire, with Trump keeping a 20% fentanyl tariff while slashing others.
China, in turn, dialed back its retaliatory tariffs. Yet, U.S. officials report Beijing’s dragging its feet, particularly on resuming rare earth mineral shipments promised under the agreement.
“China continues to slow down and choke off things like critical minerals,” said U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. These minerals are vital for American industries, from tech to defense. Greer’s words signal a trust deficit that’s growing faster than the trade deficit.
Trump’s no stranger to economic leverage, and he’s not shy about it. Two weeks ago, he says, China was in “grave economic danger” from his tariffs, with closed factories and unrest. His deal was a lifeline, but Beijing’s violation suggests they mistook kindness for weakness.
“Because of this deal, everything quickly stabilized,” Trump boasted. But that stability’s crumbling as China fails to deliver. It’s a classic bait-and-switch, and Trump’s not buying it.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent admitted to Fox News that trade talks are “a bit stalled.” He remains cautiously optimistic, hinting that talks might resume soon. Still, stalled talks don’t ship minerals or rebuild trust.
China’s restrictions on rare earth exports, initially a jab at Trump’s tariffs, were supposed to lift under the truce.
"We haven’t seen the flow of some of those critical minerals,” Greer told CNBC. That’s not just a breach—it’s a chokehold on U.S. supply chains.
Trump’s response? He’s done playing “Mr. Nice Guy.” His Friday outburst, “HAS VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT,” underscores his frustration. Beijing’s stalling tactics are testing the limits of his dealmaking patience.
On Thursday, a federal appeals court reinstated Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, overturning a New York court’s ruling that he overstepped his authority. This legal win bolsters his leverage, signaling the U.S. won’t back down. China’s misstep just gave Trump a bigger stick.
Bessent’s hope for resumed talks offers a sliver of optimism, but the clock’s ticking. The 90-day truce, now two weeks in, demands progress, not excuses. China’s slow-walking is a gamble that could reignite tariff wars.
