'So much for being nice guy': Donald Trump reignites trade tensions, warns China it has violated tariff deal
US president
Donald Trump
on Friday again raised tensions amid the ongoing tariff war with China, attacking Beijing for "totally violating its agreement with the US", and adding that he was no longer going to be "Mr.
Nice Guy".
In a post on Turth Social, Trump said: "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!"
US trade representative 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 temporary trade deal.
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The "United States did exactly what it was supposed to do, and the Chinese are slow rolling their compliance,"said Greer.
He called that "completely unacceptable and has to be addressed."
US-China trade war
The US-China trade war escalated significantly under Trump's leadership, with tariffs reaching unprecedented levels, including a 145% tariff on Chinese imports as part of the so-called "Liberation Day" trade package. These tariffs caused China's manufacturing sector to contract sharply, with the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) dropping to its lowest in 16 months, signaling a decline in factory activity and export orders.
The tariffs disrupted China's export sector, with some estimates showing cargo shipments fell by as much as 60%, and the broader economy also showed signs of weakening growth.
Trade deal
Following the economic strain, a historic trade agreement was reached in May in Geneva, where both the US and China agreed to reduce tariffs by 115% while maintaining an additional 10% tariff. China also agreed to remove retaliatory tariffs and suspend non-tariff countermeasures against the US.
This deal was hailed by the Trump administration as a significant win, aimed at addressing unfair trade practices and reducing the massive US trade deficit with China.
Fresh tensions
However, despite the deal and initial stabilisation, Trump has now accused China of completely violating the agreement.
The latest statement comes amid a volley of punitive measures by the US against China, including revoking visas for Chinese students and halting sales of critical technologies to Chinese firms.
US officials expressed frustration that China failed to fulfill key commitments, such as easing export restrictions on rare earth minerals vital for advanced technologies. These developments underscore the ongoing tensions and the fragile nature of the trade relationship between the two economic superpowers.
The economic impact of the tariffs and trade conflict has been significant on both sides. The US economy experienced a contraction in early 2025, with slowed growth, higher consumer prices, job losses, and market volatility.
Retailers raised prices due to increased operational costs, and inflation rates have climbed. The uncertainty and disruptions caused by the tariffs have also unsettled financial markets, reflecting broader concerns about the stability of global trade.
China's response to the trade war has extended beyond tariffs, including export controls and diplomatic efforts to counter U.S. measures. Beijing has warned against yielding to US tariff pressures and has threatened retaliation against countries that cooperate with US trade policies targeting China. Despite government stimulus efforts, China's GDP growth is expected to fall below official targets, indicating ongoing economic headwinds.
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