President Donald Trump is once again turning up the heat on China, accusing Beijing of violating a recently negotiated trade agreement and warning that the era of leniency is over. In a fiery post on Truth Social, Trump declared, “China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!”
The agreement in question was meant to be a short-term de-escalation in the ongoing trade war. It called for the United States to temporarily reduce tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China agreed to drop its tariffs on U.S. exports from 125% to just 10%. The tariff cuts were scheduled to take effect by May 14 and were framed as a 90-day “reset” to stabilize economic relations.
According to Trump, China has failed to follow through on its end of the deal—particularly when it comes to easing export restrictions on key materials like rare earth minerals. He alleges that China’s noncompliance is deliberate, and that Beijing has returned to “business as usual” now that the pressure has temporarily eased. Trump also stated that prior to the agreement, U.S. tariffs had pushed China’s economy into “grave danger,” citing factory closures and internal unrest.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer echoed the president’s frustrations, stating that while the U.S. kept its commitments, China has dragged its feet. Greer specifically called out China’s failure to fulfill pledges regarding critical exports, calling their behavior “completely unacceptable.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that trade negotiations have since stalled but left the door open to further discussions, possibly including a direct call between President Trump and Chinese Communist Party Chair Xi Jinping.
Trump’s rebuke sent immediate ripples through financial markets, with U.S. stock futures sliding amid renewed fears of an economic standoff. Investors and global observers are now bracing for potential retaliation from both sides if the trade truce completely unravels.
The president’s message is clear: the grace period is over. If China won’t play by the rules, Trump is prepared to reinstate maximum pressure—and this time, with even less patience.