Beijing has strongly condemned a series of recent U.S. policy moves that it claims undermine a fragile trade détente agreed between the two economic superpowers, stating these actions “seriously violate” the consensus previously reached.
In a formal statement released on Monday, China’s Ministry of Commerce cited new U.S. restrictions as cause for concern, including tightened export guidelines for artificial intelligence chips, a ban on the sale of chip design software to Chinese firms, and proposed revocations of student visas for Chinese nationals. These measures, it asserted, run counter to the trade de-escalation agreement struck just last month between Washington and Beijing.
“These practices seriously violate the consensus,” the Ministry said, referring to the bilateral commitment to reduce tariffs and revive suspended trade flows. The agreement, which aimed to pause the escalating trade conflict, was meant to last 90 days to allow time for more substantive negotiations.
Despite this temporary truce, major structural differences remain unresolved. The U.S. Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, announced at the time that Washington would reduce its steep 145% import tax to 30%, while China agreed to lower its tariff rate on American goods from 125% to 10%. Yet tensions have continued to simmer.
According to Beijing, it has upheld its obligations under the agreement by suspending or withdrawing retaliatory tariffs and other restrictive measures. “The United States has unilaterally provoked new economic and trade frictions, exacerbating the uncertainty and instability of bilateral economic and trade relations,” the Ministry’s statement said, noting that China had consistently honoured its commitments.
The Ministry further warned that China would implement “resolute and forceful measures” in response to what it described as unjustified American actions, aimed at protecting its legitimate interests.
U.S. President Donald Trump escalated the rhetoric last Friday, declaring via social media that China had “totally violated” the agreement and that he would no longer act as a conciliatory partner in trade discussions. “So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!” he wrote, adding in a separate Oval Office address that he still hoped to speak directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping to resolve the issues.
The war of words continued over the weekend. In a televised appearance, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick accused China of “slow rolling” the deal and said the U.S. was taking actions “to show them what it feels like on the other side of that equation.”
One such action includes the planned revocation of visas for Chinese students currently studying in the United States—a population exceeding 275,000. This decision further strains relations between the two countries as they compete for supremacy in critical technologies, including artificial intelligence and semiconductor development.
Beijing also views the U.S. tightening of high-tech export controls as an attempt to constrain its ambitions in the Asia-Pacific, particularly in relation to Taiwan, a key American ally and a global leader in advanced semiconductor production.
In response to President Trump’s accusations, the Commerce Ministry said Washington was distorting the facts and failing to take responsibility for its actions. “Instead of reflecting on itself, it has turned the tables and unreasonably accused China of violating the consensus, which is seriously contrary to the facts,” the Ministry stated.
-The Marietta Times
