- The White House insists China must act first in trade talks, claiming the U.S. holds the stronger economic position.
- Trump raised tariffs to 125% on Chinese goods, while China retaliated with the same and restricted rare earth exports.
- Farmers worry about export challenges, and Wall Street remains shaky as the trade war drags on with no clear resolution.
The White House isn’t backing down from its stance on the ongoing trade war with China. On Tuesday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said it plain and simple—the “ball is in China’s court.” According to her, the U.S. doesn’t need to make a deal… but China does, especially since it relies so heavily on American consumers and their spending power.
Quoting President Trump directly, Leavitt said, “China needs to make a deal with us. We don’t have to make a deal with them.” She compared China to other nations but noted the only real difference was their size. Just bigger, not necessarily better.
Tariff Escalations, Retaliation, and Rare Earths
Earlier this month, Trump threw down heavy tariffs on Chinese goods as part of what he’s calling the “Liberation Day” trade strategy. China hit back with tariffs of its own—125% on U.S. products—and announced it would stop exporting rare earth minerals, which it dominates globally.
Trump responded by doubling down, adding an extra 20% tariff specifically targeting goods tied to fentanyl trafficking. His administration’s message? China’s going to feel the pain if it doesn’t play ball.
While President Xi faces serious economic pressure at home, he’s not exactly blinking either. With both leaders digging in, this showdown doesn’t look like it’s cooling off anytime soon.
Trump Stands Firm, Farmers Get Nervous
Even as Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs for other countries, China wasn’t included. Negotiations are underway with some allies—Japan’s trade delegation, for instance, is heading to D.C. this week—but the U.S.-China standoff is holding firm.
Meanwhile, American farmers are sounding the alarm. Exporting soybeans and other crops has gotten a lot harder with these tariffs. Trump’s team says new relief measures are being discussed, and he’s already pointing to past subsidies—$23 billion paid during his first term.
“Our farmers are GREAT,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, “and the USA will PROTECT OUR FARMERS!!!” Classic all-caps reassurance.
Wall Street Wobbles, Allies Express Doubts
Markets have been on a rollercoaster. The Dow slipped 156 points Tuesday, and both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq dipped slightly too. While the panic selling has cooled off a bit, investors aren’t exactly sleeping easy.
Former National Security Adviser John Bolton added fuel to the fire with harsh criticism, calling the strategy a “strategic blunder.” He argued that instead of uniting with allies to push back against China, the U.S. went to war with everyone—and may have made Beijing stronger in the process.
So, the question hangs in the air: is this tough talk going to lead to real results, or is it just another gamble with high stakes and unpredictable fallout? Only time (and possibly a few more Truth Social posts) will tell.
