Trump says he’s ‘no longer Mr Nice Guy’ as China trade tensions flare up again

In a sharp shift from previous optimism, US President Donald Trump on Friday signalled a hardening stance against China, accusing Beijing of violating a trade agreement and warning that he will no longer be “Mr. NICE GUY.” The remarks, made via a post on social media and later reiterated at the White House, mark a renewed escalation in tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

Trump turns up heat on China

“The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US,” Trump posted. “So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!”

While the specific deal Trump was referencing remains unclear, the rhetoric sharply contrasts the tone set just weeks earlier when both nations agreed to reduce their tariffs to create space for further negotiations. Trump had cut US tariffs from 145 per cent to 30 per cent for 90 days, while China had lowered its own from 125 per cent to 10 per cent.

At the Oval Office hours later, Trump said he planned to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping and added, “hopefully we’ll work that out,” although he continued to insist that China had “violated the agreement.”

Tariff relief helped both sides, says Trump

Trump claimed the tariff rollback had “quickly stabilised” the Chinese economy, though the relief also eased pressure on US companies, many of whom had said the previous rates made it nearly impossible to continue importing Chinese goods.

The Trump administration has long maintained that tariffs would yield domestic gains such as job creation and increased investment, but critics argue they have also led to market instability and disrupted global supply chains.

Legal hurdles and market uncertainty

The latest flare-up comes days after a court ruled that Trump had overstepped his legal authority in levying sweeping tariffs earlier this year — including “Liberation Day” tariffs and measures linked to fentanyl smuggling from China, Canada and Mexico. A federal appeals court has since allowed the administration to continue collecting tariffs under emergency powers while an appeal is underway.

Trump’s approach to trade negotiations has often swung between hardline threats and declarations of progress, unsettling financial markets and fostering investor uncertainty.

China pushes back

In response, the Chinese Embassy in Washington stated that the two countries “have maintained communication over their respective concerns in the economic and trade fields” since talks in Geneva nearly three weeks ago. However, the embassy also voiced strong objections to US export controls targeting China’s semiconductor and tech sectors.

“China once again urges the U.S. to immediately correct its erroneous actions, cease discriminatory restrictions against China and jointly uphold the consensus reached at the high-level talks in Geneva,” the embassy said.

Diplomatic rhetoric intensifies

Sun Yun, director of the China programme at the Stimson Center, a Washington-based think tank, said, “I think the Chinese are playing hard to get with the trade talks.”

Meanwhile, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian accused the US of weaponising trade policy: “The US is overstretching the concept of national security by politicising trade issues… We firmly oppose that and will resolutely defend our legitimate rights and interests.”