Tariffs, stalemate in US-China negotiations. New restrictions on strategic technologies

Treasury Secretary Bessent: talks stalled, but direct contact between Trump and Xi possible. Washington suspends sales of chips and software

Talks on tariffs between the United States and China have stalled, despite the 90-day truce agreed in early May in Geneva. The state of the negotiations was defined by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who in an interview with Fox News spoke of “stalled negotiations”, while hinting at possible direct contact between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in the coming weeks.

‘I think we could have a phone call, given the scale and complexity of the talks,’ Bessent said, emphasising the ‘good relations’ between the two leaders and adding that he was confident Beijing would return to the table as soon as Trump clarified his conditions.

Meanwhile, Washington has introduced new restrictions on exports to China, particularly affecting the strategic technology sector. According to the New York Times, the Trump administration has suspended some sales of sensitive components and software, such as aerospace engines, semiconductors, and chemical and industrial products.

Among the most significant measures, the Department of Commerce has revoked certain licences that allowed US companies to export technology to Comac, which is developing the C919 aircraft, a direct competitor to the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. The jet, which made its first passenger flight two years ago, relies heavily on European and American suppliers.

According to two sources cited by the New York Times, the new measures are a direct response to Chinese restrictions on exports of critical minerals, adopted at the height of the trade war. Despite a partial easing by Beijing, shipments of rare earths and magnets have remained very limited.

The crackdown also affects the software sector: Cadence, Synopsys and Siemens have reportedly been instructed to suspend sales of microchip design software to Chinese industrial groups. The news, reported by the Financial Times, confirms the Trump administration’s desire to tighten controls on technology exports to Beijing at a still uncertain stage in the trade war.

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