Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Defense Attorney: Lebanese activist George Ibrahim Abdallah will be released on July 25
Georges Abdallah's defense attorney: The decision to release Lebanese activist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah will be issued in a few minutes
The French judiciary decided to release Lebanese activist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah after 41 years of detention
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The death toll from the al-Sudaniyya massacre, northwest of Gaza City, has risen to 15
Around 50 people were killed and injured in a fire that swept through a shopping mall in the eastern Iraqi city of Kut
Israeli occupation army: Two soldiers from the 202nd Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade were seriously injured in a battle in the northern Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 8 killed as Israeli occupation forces targeted aid workers in the al-Sudaniyya area, northwest of Gaza City
Yemeni Armed Forces: We carried out three operations targeting Umm al-Rashrash Port, a military target in al-Naqab, and Lydd Airport with four drones
Yemeni Armed Forces: We carried out four military operations, including one targeting Lydd Airport with a Thulfiqar ballistic missile
Syria's Foreign Ministry: We welcome the US and Arab efforts aimed at resolving the current crisis peacefully.

China and US tariff cuts in effect after Geneva trade war truce

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 May 2025 09:33
3 Min Read

Washington and Beijing slash tariffs for 90 days after a Geneva deal, easing trade tensions but leaving room for escalation over fentanyl and other issues.

Listen
  • x
  • US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, left, and US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent take part in a press conference, Geneva Switzerland, May 12, 2025 (Jean-Christophe Bott/AP)
    US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, left, and US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent take part in a press conference, Geneva Switzerland, May 12, 2025 (Jean-Christophe Bott/AP)

The United States and China sharply reduced tariffs on each other’s goods for a 90-day period, marking a significant pause in the bruising trade war that has rattled global markets and supply chains.

The temporary deal was reached during high-stakes negotiations over the weekend in Geneva and took effect just after midnight Wednesday, Washington time.

Under the agreement, the US lowered tariffs on Chinese goods to 30%, down from highs that had reached as much as 245%. In response, Beijing cut its tariffs to 10%, more than a 100-point reduction. These concessions mark the first major rollback since tensions escalated under US President Donald Trump, who had imposed sweeping levies as part of an effort to pressure Beijing into economic reform.

Trump’s protectionist trade policy had triggered a wave of retaliatory tariffs from China, bringing total duties on both sides to unprecedented levels. The toll on global equities, manufacturing, and cross-border commerce was immense, prompting renewed efforts to end the impasse.

Speaking to Fox News aboard Air Force One on his way to the Gulf, Trump described the deal as laying the foundation for a “very, very strong” trade agreement, adding that the most exciting aspect was China’s commitment to open its economy to US firms. While light on specifics, Trump framed the breakthrough as a strategic gain for American businesses long shut out of Chinese markets.

Related News

Trump-led tariffs, labor strains begin to hit US economy: WSJ

Trump blindsides EU in trade talks, repeats global deceptive patterns

“Opening up China” became a central refrain in Trump’s remarks, as he positioned the deal as a turning point in US-China commercial relations. The president’s earlier "Liberation Day" tariff strategy had disrupted international commerce but, according to Trump, helped draw Beijing to the table.

pic.twitter.com/RPXb6Y9E6y

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 2, 2025

Meanwhile, China maintained a calmer posture. At a summit in Beijing with Latin American leaders, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated that "there are no winners in tariff wars or trade wars," and emphasized the need for global cooperation. Top diplomat Wang Yi added a veiled criticism of Washington, denouncing "major powers" that believe "might makes right."

Lingering disputes and risk of escalation

Despite the breakthrough, several core issues remain unresolved. Notably, Washington's additional 20% tariff linked to complaints about Chinese exports of chemicals used in the production of fentanyl remains in place. The US has long accused Beijing of ignoring the illicit trade, a claim Chinese officials deny. In response, Beijing warned Washington on Tuesday to “stop smearing and shifting blame.”

Analysts caution that the tariff reductions are temporary and that uncertainty will persist as long as the agreement lacks permanence. “Further tariff reductions will be difficult and the risk of renewed escalation persists,” said Yue Su, Principal Economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Trump’s trade war has strained American firms that depend heavily on Chinese manufacturing, while China’s economy has also absorbed significant damage. Both governments appear to be seeking a reprieve, but experts warn that either side could reignite the trade conflict if talks stall.

“Both sides have endured a good deal of economic pain, and they can still endure a little bit more,” said Dylan Loh, assistant professor at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, showing the fragile nature of the current truce.

  • US tariffs
  • United States
  • Trump
  • China
  • trade war
  • Geneva trade talks
  • fentanyl exports
  • US
  • trump tariffs

Most Read

An Israeli soldier abandons an excavator during an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades. Arabic text reads "The moment the soldier fled", July, 10, 2025 (Al Qassam Military Media)

Israeli media rue al-Qassam footage, alarmed by fighters among troops

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after an Iranian attack at the al Udeid Airbase outside of Doha, Qatar, June 25, 2025 (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Satellite images show Iran attack damaged US comms dome in Qatari base

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

  • Analysis
  • 11 Jul 2025
Credible reports, including some from Israeli media itself, indicate that Tel Aviv had pinned its hopes on what can only be described as a delusional plan. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Jebraily: Iran strikes rewrote regional deterrence rules - Exclusive

  • MENA
  • 15 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Druze from Syria protest in the Israeli-occupied Majdal Shams of the occupied Golan Heights, Wednesday, July 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Syria's Druze leaders divided over ceasefire; IOF vow more operations

Special Envoy of the Iranian Foreign Minister and his Assistant for West Asian Affairs, Raouf Sheibani. (IRNA)
Politics

Iran will not yield to snapback threats: Iran FM advisor - Exclusive

Mourners attend the funeral of the Palestinian teenager Amjad Nassar Awad Hawshiya, 15, who was killed in an Israeli raid, in the West Bank village of Yatta, south of al-Khalil, Tuesday, July 1, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' transfers Ibrahimi Mosque authority to settler council

President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

Trump admin. to deny bond hearings for undocumented immigrants

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS