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Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited concerns over a renewed trade war with China, accusing Beijing of breaking a recent agreement just weeks after both nations agreed to a 90-day pause in their long-standing economic dispute.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday, May 30, Trump wrote, “China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US,” without offering details or concrete evidence to support the claim.
Trump’s statement followed comments from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who admitted in a Fox News interview that trade negotiations with China were currently “a bit stalled.” The talks had previously shown signs of progress after a high-level meeting in Geneva earlier this month led to a temporary reduction in tariffs on both sides.
As part of that agreement, Washington agreed to scale back tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, while Beijing lowered its retaliatory duties from 125% to 10%. However, tensions remain high, with the U.S. still enforcing an additional 20% tariff on Chinese goods, citing ongoing concerns over illicit drug trade activities—allegations Beijing has consistently denied.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer further criticized China’s trade practices in an interview with CNBC, pointing to continued export restrictions on critical minerals and an “enormous” trade deficit. “There’s been little to no indication that China plans to change course,” he said.
The White House has not ruled out the possibility of direct talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to Bessent, a phone call between the two leaders could be in the works if negotiations remain stagnant.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has reinstated sweeping tariffs across U.S. trade partners, with China bearing the brunt. The back-and-forth tariff war had previously driven levies to triple-digit levels before the recent, short-lived thaw.
Meanwhile, Trump’s aggressive trade approach is under legal scrutiny. A U.S. trade court recently ruled that he overstepped his authority by using emergency economic powers to justify broad tariffs. Although the ruling blocked some of the more extreme measures, it is currently on hold pending appeal. Targeted tariffs on sectors like steel and automobiles remain in place.
As uncertainty looms, businesses are once again bracing for impact. Several companies have already suspended shipments due to unpredictability in trade policy. With the possibility of renewed conflict on the horizon, the global trade community is closely watching for what happens next.
