Things were looking calm — for a moment. Then, President Donald Trump took to X on May 30, 2025, and reignited the U.S.-China trade fight with one blunt message: China broke the deal.
In his post, Trump claimed China violated a short-term trade agreement reached just two weeks earlier, which had temporarily lowered tariffs for 90 days.
The purpose, according to Trump? Not to help America, but to “save” China from total economic collapse.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 30, 2025
Later that day, the Trump administration followed up with action.
Tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum were doubled — jumping from 25% to 50%.
It’s the latest shot in a trade war that’s defined Trump’s economic agenda since 2018.
While critics say the move risks higher costs for U.S. manufacturers, Trump’s allies argue it’s long overdue.
They believe the U.S. has allowed China to cheat the system for decades — manipulating trade, stealing technology, and undercutting American workers.
Trump says he made a “fast” deal with China in mid-May to suspend or reduce tariffs for 90 days while they got their economic house in order.
But China never publicly confirmed the agreement.
Some reports suggest there was an informal understanding — not a formal treaty — which left plenty of room for different interpretations.
A U.S. official told Reuters the possible breach may involve China’s slow-walking of export licenses for rare earth minerals — critical components in everything from smartphones to fighter jets.
China has a near-monopoly on these materials and has used them as a geopolitical tool before.
Whether that qualifies as a “violation” depends on your perspective.
From Trump’s? Absolutely.
There’s plenty of evidence to back up Trump’s claim that China’s economy is under pressure.
According to Radio Free Asia, protests have broken out across several Chinese cities since April.
Workers from shuttered factories have taken to the streets over months of unpaid wages. Orders for exports have dried up. Small businesses are closing their doors.
It’s not just anecdotal.
A report from Times Now earlier this month described China’s industrial zones as “grinding to a halt.” And with the U.S. market tightening, Beijing has been scrambling to contain the damage.
Some Chinese officials, according to The Guardian, floated the idea of reducing tariffs on U.S. tech products to ease the strain.
That sounds more like strategic retreat than violation — but to Trump, it may have looked like hedging while asking for a break.
Critics have mocked the lack of hard evidence and questioned whether there was even a deal to begin with.
Some accused Trump of manufacturing the crisis to boost his tough-on-China image during an election year.
But Trump’s supporters aren’t buying the skepticism.
They point to the chaos in Chinese manufacturing, the rare earth slowdown, and the sheer fact that China remains quiet on the details.
If there was no deal, they ask, why hasn’t Beijing denied it outright? Why have they responded with silence — and not outrage?
Others see Trump’s style as part of the strategy: forceful rhetoric followed by hard-nosed negotiation.
It may not fit the old-school playbook, but it’s hard to argue it hasn’t made an impact.
The new 50% tariffs could raise prices in the short term, especially for goods that use a lot of steel and aluminum — like cars, appliances, and construction materials.
Supporters say the long game is worth it: shifting supply chains away from China, bringing manufacturing back home, and ending years of economic dependence on a geopolitical rival.
Whether that vision pans out remains to be seen.
Now, the U.S.-China trade war is back in full swing. This time, the battle lines are sharper than ever.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
