China Confirms Trade Deal With U.S., But Leaves Key Details in the Dark
China confirmed a new trade deal with the U.S. after talks in London, though no concrete details were disclosed.
China and the U.S. strike a trade deal with limited transparency, revealing more about global power dynamics than actual cooperation. Photo: @PDChinaBusiness
June 27, 2025 Hour: 7:01 am
China confirmed Friday it has reached a new trade agreement with the United States, following negotiations in London. While framed as a diplomatic step forward, the deal remains vague, with both sides withholding key details about its scope and implementation.
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In a brief statement, China’s Ministry of Commerce validated remarks made a day earlier by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who said the deal had been signed. “Recently, with approval, both sides confirmed the details of the agreement,” the statement reads. However, no specific terms have been disclosed by either party.
The Chinese government did highlight one important aspect: it will “review and approve export applications for controlled goods that meet legal requirements,” referring to rare earth elements—strategic minerals essential to global defense, tech, and auto industries. In April, Beijing imposed new restrictions on their export, asserting control over resources considered vital by Western powers.
The agreement comes after a high-level phone call between President Xi Jinping and Donald Trump on June 5, which reportedly cleared the path for the London talks. “The U.S. and China are expected to find common ground and abide by the important consensus and requirements agreed upon by the heads of state,” the ministry added.
Beijing also stated that Washington would “cancel a series of restrictive measures” imposed against China. Yet again, no further clarification was provided—raising questions about what concessions, if any, were actually made on either side.
Trump’s early announcement of the agreement, without detail, mirrors the opacity on both ends. For countries in the Global South, often affected by these great-power rivalries, the deal represents not transparency or mutual benefit—but calculated pragmatism in the face of growing economic and technological tensions.
Rather than signaling true cooperation, the agreement reflects a momentary balancing act between two powers seeking to avoid escalation while protecting their own strategic interests. In a world increasingly shaped by economic coercion and geopolitical rivalry, such agreements offer little clarity—only further evidence of the fragile architecture of global power.
Author: MK
Source: EFE - AP
