‘So much for being nice man’: Donald Trump reignites trade tensions, warns China it has violated tariff deal

US president Donald Trump on Friday once more raised tensions amid the continuing tariff battle with China, attacking Beijing for “totally violating its agreement with the US”, and including that he was now not going to be “Mr. Nice Guy”.In a put up on Turth Social, Trump mentioned: “Two weeks ago China was in grave economic danger! The very high Tariffs I set made it virtually impossible for China to trade into the United States marketplace which is, by far, number one in the World. We went, in effect, cold turkey with China, and it was devastating for them. Many factories closed and there was, to put it mildly, “civil unrest”. I saw what was happening and didn’t like it, for them, not for us. I made a fast deal with China in order to save them from what I thought was going to be a very bad situation, and I didn’t want to see that happen. Because of this deal, everything quickly stabilised and China got back to business as usual. Everybody was happy! That is the good news!!! 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’s put up on his Truth Social platform got here hours after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned that trade talks with China have been “a bit stalled,” in an interview with broadcaster Fox News.US trade consultant Jamieson Greer, in a CNBC interview on Friday, echoed Trump’s allegation, saying “we are very concerned with” China’s purported non-compliance with the short-term trade deal.The “United States did exactly what it was supposed to do, and the Chinese are slow rolling their compliance,”mentioned Greer.He known as that “completely unacceptable and has to be addressed.”

US-China trade battle

The US-China trade battle escalated considerably below Trump’s management, with tariffs reaching unprecedented ranges, together with a 145% tariff on Chinese imports as a part of the so-called “Liberation Day” trade package deal. These tariffs precipitated China’s manufacturing sector to contract sharply, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) dropping to its lowest in 16 months, signaling a decline in manufacturing facility exercise and export orders. The tariffs disrupted China’s export sector, with some estimates exhibiting cargo shipments fell by as much as 60%, and the broader economic system additionally confirmed indicators of weakening progress.

Trade deal

Following the financial pressure, a historic trade settlement was reached in May in Geneva, the place each the US and China agreed to cut back tariffs by 115% whereas sustaining a further 10% tariff. China additionally agreed to take away retaliatory tariffs and droop non-tariff countermeasures in opposition to the US. This deal was hailed by the Trump administration as a major win, aimed toward addressing unfair trade practices and lowering the huge US trade deficit with China.

Fresh tensions

However, regardless of the deal and preliminary stabilisation, Trump has now accused China of fully violating the settlement. The newest assertion comes amid a volley of punitive measures by the US in opposition to China, together with revoking visas for Chinese college students and halting gross sales of essential applied sciences to Chinese corporations. US officers expressed frustration that China failed to satisfy key commitments, comparable to easing export restrictions on uncommon earth minerals important for superior applied sciences. These developments underscore the continuing tensions and the delicate nature of the trade relationship between the 2 financial superpowers.The financial affect of the tariffs and trade battle has been important on either side. The US economic system skilled a contraction in early 2025, with slowed progress, increased shopper costs, job losses, and market volatility. Retailers raised costs attributable to elevated operational prices, and inflation charges have climbed. The uncertainty and disruptions brought on by the tariffs have additionally unsettled monetary markets, reflecting broader issues concerning the stability of world trade.China’s response to the trade battle has prolonged past tariffs, together with export controls and diplomatic efforts to counter U.S. measures. Beijing has warned in opposition to yielding to US tariff pressures and has threatened retaliation in opposition to international locations that cooperate with US trade insurance policies focusing on China. Despite authorities stimulus efforts, China’s GDP progress is anticipated to fall under official targets, indicating ongoing financial headwinds.