U.S. President Donald Trump has accused China of breaching its trade agreement with the United States, fuelling fresh tensions between the two global powers.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: “China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH the US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!”
The post was shared on Friday and reported by Reuters as Washington and Beijing continue to navigate a fragile economic relationship.
The two countries had previously agreed to ease some of the heavy trade tariffs imposed on each other, with hopes of extending dialogue to reduce longstanding trade tensions.
That agreement followed two days of high-level talks in Geneva, Switzerland, during which both nations released a joint statement.
The trade dispute between the U.S. and China first erupted during Trump’s time in office when he imposed sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports, accusing Beijing of exploiting unfair trade practices.
In a related development, China imposed sanctions in April on U.S. lawmakers and non-governmental organisations it accused of mishandling issues linked to Hong Kong.
This was in response to earlier U.S. sanctions from March, which targeted six Chinese and Hong Kong officials allegedly involved in what Washington described as “transnational repression.”
Among those sanctioned were Hong Kong Justice Secretary Paul Lam, Security Office Director Dong Jingwei, and former police commissioner Raymond Siu.
China’s Foreign Ministry hit back with its measures, stating: “In response to the U.S.’s illegal unilateral sanctions against Chinese officials in Hong Kong, China decided to impose sanctions on the U.S. Congress members, government officials and heads of NGOs who acted egregiously on #HongKong-related issues.”
The ongoing tit-for-tat sanctions have intensified the diplomatic rift between the two countries, complicating efforts to return to stable trade relations.
Tensions escalated further when Chinese exports to the U.S. were hit with a steep 245% tariff — a move viewed by analysts as a serious escalation in the trade war.
Despite the talks, both sides remain deeply divided over key issues, including technology, human rights, and geopolitical influence in Asia.
With both nations hardening their positions, observers say the prospect of a lasting resolution remains uncertain.
