A recent conversation between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping aimed to smooth things over. Yet, the US-China trade talks in London are still filled with tension.   The talks are set to discuss several fresh disputes that have strained relations.  These disputes could put a fragile truce over tariffs at risk.  The two nations agreed to suspend most of their tariffs for 90 days in Geneva last month. The tariffs were part of an escalating trade war that had economists worried about a potential recession.  Since then, the U. S. and China have been at odds over several key issues.  These include advanced semiconductors, which power artificial intelligence, "rare earths, " which are vital to carmakers and other industries, and visas for Chinese students studying in the U. S.

    Technology is a major point of contention.  The latest disagreements started just a day after the Geneva agreement to "pause" tariffs for 90 days.  The U. S. Commerce Department issued guidance stating that the use of Ascend AI chips from Huawei could violate U. S. export controls.  The guidance noted that these chips were likely developed with American technology, despite restrictions on exporting such tech to China.  The Chinese government was not happy.  They have been upset for years about U. S. moves to limit Chinese companies' access to technology.  This is especially true for equipment and processes needed to produce the most advanced semiconductors.  The Chinese side urged the U. S. to correct its "erroneous practices. "  The U. S. Commerce Secretary will join the talks in London.  This suggests that the U. S. is at least willing to listen to China's concerns about export controls.

    China has a strong position in the mining and processing of rare earths.  These elements are crucial for various products, from cars to military equipment.  The Chinese government started requiring licenses to export seven rare earth elements in April.  This led to shortages, causing automakers worldwide to worry about their stockpiles.  President Trump criticized China for supposedly violating its agreement with the U. S.  However, the Chinese government indicated that it is addressing the concerns, which have come from European companies as well.  They have granted some approvals and will continue to strengthen the approval process for applications that comply with regulations.  This shows that China has a powerful card to play if it wants to retaliate against tariffs or other measures.

    Student visas are another point of contention.  Normally, student visas do not factor into trade talks.  However, a U. S. announcement about revoking the visas of some Chinese students has added to the tension.  China's Commerce Ministry raised this issue when asked about the accusation that China had violated the Geneva agreement.  The ministry noted that the U. S. had issued export control guidelines for AI chips, stopped the sale of chip design software to China, and planned to revoke Chinese student visas.  The U. S. Secretary of State announced that the United States would "aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students. "  This includes those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.  More than 270, 000 Chinese students studied in the U. S. in the 2023-24 academic year.  This move could significantly impact both countries' educational and economic ties.

London Talks: Tech, Tariffs, and Tensions Between US and China

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