US President Donald Trump hailed his recent talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a success, but behind the scenes, Beijing was using its leverage to secure better deals for itself. The "amazing" meeting, according to Trump's own self-assessment, saw him agree to cut tariffs on China from 145% to an average of 45%, while suspending the tightening of controls on tech exports.
However, experts say this is a temporary reprieve at best, as the underlying problems in US-China trade relations remain unresolved. The deal doesn't address the fundamental issues that have driven a decade of tensions between Washington and Beijing – from China's refusal to open up its market to American businesses, to its aggressive attempts to expand its global influence.
The agreement also comes with significant risks. China has threatened to cut off access to rare earths, critical minerals used in advanced technologies like AI and electronics, unless the US makes concessions on trade. This could severely damage America's technological edge and have far-reaching economic implications.
What's more, this deal is part of a broader pattern of Chinese aggression that's pushing longstanding US allies towards Beijing. Swingeing tariffs on India, for example, have led the country to explore alternative partnerships with China.
The Trump administration's erratic trade diplomacy has left a trail of uncertainty and instability in its wake. The president's decision to cut tariffs was seen as a concession, but it's unclear whether this will lead to a lasting improvement in US-China relations.
What's clear is that the US needs to retool its approach to trade with China if it wants to win in the long term. The agreement reached in South Korea may have bought Beijing some time, but it's only a temporary pause. The underlying contradictions between Washington and Beijing remain unresolved, and the dangers of escalation are very real – not just for the two superpowers themselves, but for other countries that've put little faith in either side.
Ultimately, this deal highlights the challenges facing US diplomacy under Trump's leadership. The president's tendency to make deals on the fly, often at the last minute, has left his allies and partners scrambling to keep up. It also underscores the need for the US to re-establish itself as a global leader on trade and security issues – rather than ceding ground to China's increasingly assertive foreign policy.
The question is, can Trump and his administration get their act together before it's too late? The clock is ticking, and if they fail to address the underlying problems in US-China relations, the consequences could be disastrous.
However, experts say this is a temporary reprieve at best, as the underlying problems in US-China trade relations remain unresolved. The deal doesn't address the fundamental issues that have driven a decade of tensions between Washington and Beijing – from China's refusal to open up its market to American businesses, to its aggressive attempts to expand its global influence.
The agreement also comes with significant risks. China has threatened to cut off access to rare earths, critical minerals used in advanced technologies like AI and electronics, unless the US makes concessions on trade. This could severely damage America's technological edge and have far-reaching economic implications.
What's more, this deal is part of a broader pattern of Chinese aggression that's pushing longstanding US allies towards Beijing. Swingeing tariffs on India, for example, have led the country to explore alternative partnerships with China.
The Trump administration's erratic trade diplomacy has left a trail of uncertainty and instability in its wake. The president's decision to cut tariffs was seen as a concession, but it's unclear whether this will lead to a lasting improvement in US-China relations.
What's clear is that the US needs to retool its approach to trade with China if it wants to win in the long term. The agreement reached in South Korea may have bought Beijing some time, but it's only a temporary pause. The underlying contradictions between Washington and Beijing remain unresolved, and the dangers of escalation are very real – not just for the two superpowers themselves, but for other countries that've put little faith in either side.
Ultimately, this deal highlights the challenges facing US diplomacy under Trump's leadership. The president's tendency to make deals on the fly, often at the last minute, has left his allies and partners scrambling to keep up. It also underscores the need for the US to re-establish itself as a global leader on trade and security issues – rather than ceding ground to China's increasingly assertive foreign policy.
The question is, can Trump and his administration get their act together before it's too late? The clock is ticking, and if they fail to address the underlying problems in US-China relations, the consequences could be disastrous.
this whole deal with china feels like a temporary fix, you know? trump thinks he won or something but really beijing was just being nice for now. it's not like any of the major issues got addressed. they're still trying to shut out american businesses and expand their own influence globally. and on top of that, they're threatening to cut off access to rare earths which would totally wreck america's tech game 
. I mean, cutting tariffs from 145% to 45% is a pretty big concession 
, but it doesn't address any of the fundamental issues with China's market and global influence 
. And what if China decides to back out on its end? 
. The US needs to take a more strategic approach to trade with China, not just make deals on the fly 
. Trump's leadership has been all over the place when it comes to trade diplomacy 
, and I'm worried that this agreement will be another example of him giving in too easily 
.
china's just playing dumb meanwhile they're like pulling all the strings and us is left holding our breath thinking we got a good cop out lol no one really knows what's going on behind closed doors 
but one thing is for sure - trump's trade diplomacy skills are straight out of a bad 90s movie 
always making last minute deals and leaving everyone else to wonder what just happened 
it's like he thinks the world revolves around him and china's gonna be all like 'oh cool we'll take the deal now' 
newsflash trump: us china trade relations are a mess 
and if you don't get your act together before it's too late, america is gonna get left in the dust 
. Trump's trade diplomacy is like a big ol' hot mess show and it's only gonna get worse from here...
. This whole deal reeks of a temporary fix, just like how Beijing used that whole COVID thing to get a free pass. Rare earths? That's a big deal, tech-wise 
. America can't afford to lose access to those minerals or its grip on the high-tech game will be severely compromised 
. They're just kicking the can down the road and hoping no one notices 
. If they really wanted to make progress, they'd need to re-examine their trade policies from top to bottom 
.
. China's been playing a long game here, and the US is just reacting half-baked 
.
. It could really hurt American businesses and our economy. What's needed is a long-term strategy to compete with China, not just a quick fix to appease them 
.
china's still gonna try to push its own interests and usa's still stuck with tech export controls 
I don't know what Trump is thinking, making deals at the last minute and not considering the long-term implications.