Over the weekend, President Donald Trump successfully cut a trade deal with China, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/12/us-news/us-and-china-reach-deal-to-slash-tariffs-officials-say/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcing</a> our biggest adversary has agreed to scale back tariffs on U.S. imports to just 10 percent for three months.
The announcement likely came as a shock to <a href="https://x.com/atrupar/status/1920878476837449764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1920878476837449764%7Ctwgr%5E2ca4dd2d76e13621845f6a6b8705bbcb9bb0d590%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerohedge.com%2Fmarkets%2Ffake-news-narrative-empty-ports-empty-shelves-suffers-spectacular-implosion%3Fref%3Dbiztoc.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the left-wing media</a> and <a href="https://x.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1921669522102104360" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Democrats</a> who swore it would never, ever happen. But it was a good reminder that the president understands what mainstream American media has failed to cover: China is losing this trade war. Chinese <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/30/business/chinese-factory-activity-plunges-as-trump-tariffs-hammer-bilateral-trade/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">factory floors</a> are deserted, and cargo bookings between the United States and China are <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/29/business/shipments-from-china-to-drop-by-35-due-to-trump-tariffs-port-of-la-chief/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">down</a> by nearly 50%.
And it’s not just China. Trump also recently announced a trade agreement with the <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-announces-his-first-trade-deal-with-the-uk-heres-whats-in-it-120417143.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Kingdom</a> and is closing in on deals with India, Japan, and South Korea.
Back at home, American manufacturers are seeing a <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2025/05/05/american-business-returns-trump-tariffs-china/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">surge in demand</a>, ramping up production, preparing to hire new workers, and announcing <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/gilead-announces-11-billion-new-investments-us-2025-05-07/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">billions</a> of dollars in new investments. Meanwhile, President Trump is determined to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/12/trump-tax-bill/83584926007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cut taxes</a>, red tape, and regulations, all of which are sure to help American consumers and businesses alike.
You might think this success would change how American businesses think about Trump. Too often, big companies substitute their core values for the zero-sum game of appealing to one side of the political spectrum, costing them public trust and hurting their bottom line.
(Two words: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/19/dylan-mulvaney-bud-light-boycott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bud Light</a>.)
Simply put, corporate America has a long track record of <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/15/news/walmart-doug-mcmillon-charlottesville-trump/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poor decision-making</a> and choosing the wrong hills to die on. After initially embracing Trump, many big businesses have now turned on him, thanks to tariffs. They may want to reconsider.
After Donald Trump’s resounding victory last November, big retailers from Walmart to Amazon to Target were quick to <a href="https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reach out</a>, <a href="https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">applaud</a>, and align themselves with the new president, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/target-donated-1-million-to-trump-vance-inauguration-tariffs-dei-2025-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">donating millions</a> for inaugural ceremonies and even <a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/trump-inauguration-president-2025/card/why-walmart-s-ceo-is-at-the-inauguration-8NmecvA3oo7tG8dPdI8F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attending themselves</a> in person, <a href="https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">congratulating</a> President Trump on his victory, and generally making nice with the White House’s newest occupant.
&#8220;Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory. No nation has bigger opportunities,” wrote <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-victory-business-leaders-react/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on X</a>.
“<a href="https://fortune.com/2025/03/25/walmart-heiress-christy-walton-nonparitsan-advert/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The dignity of our country is not for sale</a>,” reads an ad by Walmart heiress Christy Walton placed in the New York Times shortly after President Trump’s win.
But the honeymoon ended as soon as it began.
&#8220;These tariffs may be aimed at China, but the bill will be charged to American consumers who will pay more at the checkout,&#8221; <a href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/03/22/big-retailers-push-back-on-trump-tarriffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> the vice president of international trade for the Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represents Target and Best Buy, among other major retailers.
Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz said on <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/06/mattel-ceo-toy-manufacturing-trump-tariffs.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNBC</a> that manufacturing won’t come to America, but price hikes will.
Unfortunately for these businesses, gaslighting families into blaming Trump for the high prices won’t work. A recent focus group in Pennsylvania <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/11/focus-groups-pennsylvania-swing-voters-voice-tariff-confusion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> that, even though voters didn’t fully understand tariffs, they still supported Trump.
Bottom line: Big retail would do well to sit tight and stick with the president on this one.
The payoff will be more than just dollars and profits. They’ll have earned the trust of the public, demonstrating they take seriously the principles and pride of being an American, and in the long run, consumers will thank them with their wallets for years to come.
Carly Bird is a Republican strategist and founder and president of Bird’s Eye Consulting. She previously served as the national spokeswoman for Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

A Walmart Store Ahead Of Earnings Figures

A Warning To Big Retail: Stick With America First

Bud Light

China

Corporations

Tariffs

The Trump administration’s Department of Justice has <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/chinese-company-and-three-chinese-nationals-indicted-unlawfully-importing-pill-making" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that a federal grand jury indicted a Chinese company and three Chinese nationals for allegedly illegally importing equipment capable of producing millions of potentially lethal fake pills.
The indictment, unsealed on Monday, targeted CapsulCN International Co. Ltd. (CapsulCN) and Xiochuan “Ricky” Pan, 40, Tingyan “Monica” Yang, 37, and Xi “Inna” Chen, 30, all of whom were charged with smuggling, Controlled Substances Act, and money laundering offenses in connection with CapsulCN’s unlawful import and distribution of tableting machines (also known as “pill presses”), encapsulating machines, and counterfeit die molds.
“Over a quarter of a million Americans have died from a fentanyl overdose since 2018,” USA Facts <a href="https://usafacts.org/articles/are-fentanyl-overdose-deaths-rising-in-the-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">notes</a>. &#8220;During 2023, approximately 72,000, or nearly seven in 10, drug overdose deaths in the United States were estimated to involve illegally manufactured fentanyls (IMFs),” the CDC has <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7348a2.htm#:~:text=During%202023%2C%20approximately%2072%2C000%2C%20or,in%20the%20U.S.%20drug%20supply." target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
“Four internet domains used by CapsulCN to market and sell illicit pill-making equipment to U.S. customers were seized today in connection with this investigation,” the DOJ revealed.
“This indictment and today’s domain seizures send an unmistakable message to criminals in the People’s Republic of China and across the world — the Department will use every weapon in its arsenal to combat those who facilitate the manufacture and distribution of deadly drugs in the United States,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated.
“This U.S. Attorney’s Office is focused on bringing the full force of justice to anyone who conspires to poison our communities with fentanyl,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Whether through the importation of pill presses and related materials, as alleged in this indictment, or through trafficking precursor chemicals and the drug itself, it is evident that bad actors are determined to harm Americans with fentanyl. Our federal prosecutors, through collaborative efforts with our law enforcement partners, are determined to stop them.”
“These indictments against Chinese nationals exemplify Homeland Security Investigations’ unwavering commitment to breaking every link of the global fentanyl supply chain,” Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens of the HSI El Paso Division echoed. “We are committed to continue working hand-in-hand with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to get deadly fentanyl out of our communities and put an end to the chaos and devastation resulting from this epidemic.”
The DOJ explained:
<blockquote>
Many of the fake pills containing fentanyl and other controlled substances seized in the United States are manufactured using relatively inexpensive pill-making equipment — such as pill presses, encapsulating machines, and die molds — obtained from Chinese pharmaceutical equipment companies and imported into the United States. These fake pills often mimic the look, feel, and effect of legitimate pharmaceutical drugs and are particularly dangerous and misleading to U.S. consumers, who may falsely believe they are taking legitimate prescription medication that is safer and less addictive than the fentanyl and methamphetamine the pills really contain.
</blockquote>
The effort to discover the illegal importation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. “Established in 1982, OCDETF is the centerpiece of the Attorney General’s strategy to combat transnational-organized-crime and to reduce the availability of illicit narcotics in the nation by using a prosecutor-led, multi-agency approach to enforcement,” the DOJ <a href="https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">states</a>.

Nogales, Arizona, USA – Nov 06 2023: Fentanyl pills seized by U.S. Custom and Border Protection officers at the Port of Mariposa

Chinese Company Accused Of Smuggling Equipment To U.S. Used To Make Fake Pills, Mislead Americans

Crime

Department of Justice

Fentanyl

Pharmaceuticals

smuggle

U.S.

The United States and China on Monday announced an agreement to significantly reduce tariffs for 90 days while trade negotiations continue after top American and Chinese officials met in Switzerland over the weekend.
The deal means that President Donald Trump&#8217;s 125% reciprocal tariff on China will be reduced to 10%, with a 20% fentanyl tariff still in place, a significant drop from the 145% tariff placed on Chinese goods in the last few weeks. China will drop its retaliatory tariffs on the United States from 125% to 10%. The reductions are to be in place by Wednesday, May 14.
“After taking the aforementioned actions, the Parties will establish a mechanism to continue discussions about economic and trade relations,” said a joint statement from the United States and China. &#8220;These discussions may be conducted alternately in China and the United States, or a third country upon agreement of the Parties. As required, the two sides may conduct working-level consultations on relevant economic and trade issues.&#8221;
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and China Vice Premier of the State Council He Lifeng will continue discussions.
&#8220;I would say one of the big takeaways from this weekend — the United States will continue a strategic rebalancing in many areas that were exposed as supply chain weaknesses during COVID, whether it&#8217;s medicines, whether it&#8217;s semiconductors, steel,&#8221; Bessent said. &#8220;We will continue moving toward U.S. independence or reliable supplies from allies on those — but the consensus from both delegations this weekend is neither side wants a decoupling.&#8221;
China will also suspend non-tariff actions taken against the United States since April 2 such as restrictions on exports of rare earths and penalties for certain American companies.
Bessent added that he would like to see China open to more American goods and said that the two countries now have a mechanism in place to continue trade discussions. He <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/12/treasury-secretary-bessent-says-hes-likely-to-meet-with-china-again-in-next-few-weeks.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later told</a> CNBC that he expected to meet with Chinese officials again in a few weeks to work toward a more &#8220;fulsome agreement.&#8221;
“We tried to identify shared interest,” he said. “We came with a list of problems that we were trying to solve, and I think we did a good job on that.”
The White House also wants to rebalance trade with China, noting in a release that the trade deficit with the communist country was $295.4 billion in 2024.
Bessent said that the Biden administration had failed to make China abide by previous trade agreements.
&#8220;We had an excellent trade agreement with China — and the Biden Administration chose not to enforce it,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The Chinese delegation basically told us that once President Biden came into office, they just ignored their obligations.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecScottBessent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecScottBessent</a>: &#8220;We had an excellent trade agreement with China — and the Biden Administration chose not to enforce it. The Chinese delegation basically told us that once President Biden came into office, they just ignored their obligations.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/Sv8pxVrazf">pic.twitter.com/Sv8pxVrazf</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1921896843610403005?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Greer noted that Chinese officials had indicated that they would be taking more steps to crackdown on the flow of fentanyl originating in China into the United States.
&#8220;Both the Chinese and the United States agreed to work constructively together on fentanyl and there&#8217;s a positive path forward there as well,&#8221; he told reporters.
Bessent noted that the Chinese Deputy Minister for Public Safety, who he noted was not &#8220;traditionally part of the trade team,&#8221; was present at the talks over the weekend. He said that official had a &#8220;robust and highly detailed&#8221; discussion on the fentanyl issue.
Stock markets worldwide surged due to the temporary agreement, and the U.S. stock futures also jumped.

SWITZERLAND-US-CHINA-DIPLOMACY-TARIFF-TRADE

U.S., China Release Details Of Agreement To Dramatically Slash Tariffs

Donald Trump

Economy

Politics

Scott Bessent

trade

Trade War

Trump Administration

&#8220;Great progress&#8221; was made in trade negotiations with China, President Donald Trump said on Saturday evening, as he touted a &#8220;total reset&#8221; in the making.
Trump made the announcement as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breakthrough-trump-officials-set-date-for-direct-trade-talks-with-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">met</a> with Chinese officials in Switzerland over the weekend.
&#8220;A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland. Many things discussed, much agreed to. A total reset negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114486066663976973" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Truth Social. &#8220;We want to see, for the good of both China and the U.S., an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!&#8221;
While many countries received a 90-day reprieve for &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariffs above the baseline rate of 10% last month, the United States <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-issues-90-day-pause-on-most-tariffs-raises-chinas-to-125" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increased</a> the overall penalty on Chinese goods to 145%. Beijing responded by <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/11/china-strikes-back-with-125percent-tariffs-on-us-goods-starting-april-12.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raising</a> tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%. The economies in the United States and China have been roiled as a result of the trade war.
Heading into the high-stakes talks, Trump suggested that Bessent had room to offer a lower rate.
&#8220;80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114477628854583525" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a Truth Social post on Friday.
China’s President Xi Jinping sent a delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng.
The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/china-dispatches-top-security-chief-to-face-trump-team-over-fentanyl-crisis-tariffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the group includes Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, who is considered &#8220;the point person in Beijing’s recent discussions with Washington over how to address President Trump’s concerns about China’s role in the fentanyl trade.&#8221;
Trump administration officials have been negotiating on trade with a host of nations over the past several weeks and have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sorry-china-bessent-says-deal-with-massive-trade-partner-very-close" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signaled</a> progress in talks with the likes of India, South Korea, and Japan.
Last week, the White House unveiled a trade deal <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/05/fact-sheet-u-s-uk-reach-historic-trade-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">framework</a> with the United Kingdom that aims to slash tariffs and non-tariff barriers to unlock $5 billion in new export opportunities for U.S. farmers and businesses, while retaining a 10% Liberation Day tariff base rate and imposing &#8220;alternative&#8221; arrangements for British auto and steel imports to &#8220;bolster&#8221; economic and national security.
“Both countries have agreed that economic security is national security and will be working together as allies to ensure that we have a strong industrial base and appropriate export controls and protections for key technologies and industries like steel,” Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/both-countries-will-become-stronger-trumps-trade-deal-will-give-u-s-more-access-to-u-k-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “Steel was a big factor. Both countries will become stronger with steel.”

President Donald Trump

Trump Hails ‘Total Reset’ In China Trade Negotiations

Executive

World

China’s President Xi Jinping sent his top security official to Switzerland on Friday for critical trade talks with the U.S., underscoring Beijing&#8217;s recognition of the fentanyl crisis as a key issue amid ongoing tariff tensions with the Trump administration.
The Chinese delegation, led by Vice Premier He Lifeng, includes Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, who is considered &#8220;the point person in Beijing’s recent discussions with Washington over how to address President Trump’s concerns about China’s role in the fentanyl trade,&#8221; <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/china/china-sends-xis-security-czar-to-trade-talks-with-u-s-a763826d?mod=hp_lead_pos1">according</a> to The Wall Street Journal. They will meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Switzerland on Saturday and Sunday.
The meeting will be aimed at addressing China&#8217;s role in the U.S. fentanyl crisis and tariff policies, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal.
Previously, Chinese officials had accused the U.S. of using the fentanyl problem as a pretext to escalate tariffs.
Now, the Chinese government appears to recognize that it must present cooperative gestures in response to significant American concerns about the fentanyl crisis, as shown by Wang Xiaohong&#8217;s anticipated presence.
“Wang’s presence means one thing: Fentanyl is not only on the table, but also a key piece in the U.S.-China trade talks at this stage,” said Yun Sun, China program director at the D.C. Stimson Center, per the WSJ. “How willing China is to cooperate will illustrate how eager they are to make the trade deal.”
Sources close to the discussions told the Wall Street Journal that the Chinese delegation has been given a clear list outlining steps the Trump administration expects Beijing to take on fentanyl.
These recommendations reportedly include stricter law enforcement measures targeting domestic suppliers of fentanyl precursor chemicals and harsher penalties for criminal organizations involved in narcotics trafficking.
President Donald Trump, who imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese goods in part due to China&#8217;s connection with the fentanyl crisis — which claims tens of thousands of American lives each year — posted Friday on Truth Social that he is open to lowering tariffs to 80%, placing the decision in the hands of Treasury Secretary Bessent.
“CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA — WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DON’T WORK ANYMORE!!!” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114477610338144415">posted</a> on Truth Social Friday morning.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-calls-for-china-to-open-its-markets-floats-major-tariff-reduction">Trump Calls For China To Open Its Markets, Floats Major Tariff Reduction</a>

CHINA-US-DIPLOMACY

China Dispatches Top Security Chief To Face Trump Team Over Fentanyl Crisis, Tariffs

Switzerland

Xi Jinping

President Donald Trump on Friday called for China to open up its markets to the United States and floated the possibility of cutting the current tariffs on China nearly in half.
Trump made the comments just one day after telling reporters that he expected tariffs on China to be lowered soon. This weekend, American and Chinese officials are set to meet in Switzerland to discuss trade and other economic matters.
&#8220;CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA — WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DON’T WORK ANYMORE!!!&#8221; Trump posted on his Truth Social social media platform early Friday morning.
A few minutes later, he posted, &#8220;80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B,&#8221; presumably referring to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Tariffs on China have been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-lays-out-exact-tariff-rate-on-china-going-forward" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set at 145%</a> since last month after the communist country moved to retaliate against Trump&#8217;s tariffs. At the same time, China imposed a 125% levy on American goods. During an event in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/08/business/us-weighs-plan-to-slash-china-tariffs-to-as-low-as-50-as-soon-as-next-week-sources/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that tariffs on China would not increase anymore and could &#8220;only go down.&#8221;
&#8220;It’s at 145 so we know it’s coming down,” Trump said. “I think we’re going to have a very good relationship.”
Treasury Secretary Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breakthrough-trump-officials-set-date-for-direct-trade-talks-with-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">are poised</a> to meet with Chinese officials on Saturday and Sunday in Geneva to attempt to work out a trade deal.
“At President Trump’s direction, I am negotiating with countries to rebalance our trade relations to achieve reciprocity, open new markets, and protect America’s economic and national security,” Greer <a href="https://ustr.gov/about/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2025/may/ambassador-jamieson-greer-travel-switzerland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “I look forward to having productive meetings with some of my counterparts as well as visiting with my team in Geneva who all work diligently to advance U.S. interests on a range of multilateral issues.”
Bessent has said that the current economic situation with China is &#8220;unsustainable&#8221; and that the United States wants &#8220;fair trade&#8221; and not to completely decouple from China.
On Thursday, Trump announced his first big trade agreement. Trump said the deal with the United Kingdom would allow the United States to gain increased market access in the U.K. for billions of dollars worth of American exports. The 10% baseline tariff on British goods remains in place with exceptions for exports of Rolls-Royce engines and airplane parts.

Trump Hails The Election Of First US Pope As A ‘Great Honor’

Trump Calls For China To Open Its Markets, Floats Major Tariff Reduction

Communist China

Economics

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Artificial intelligence industry leaders who have openly stated a willingness to work on the emerging technology with China will testify to Congress on Thursday, likely facing a panel of U.S. senators urging them to instead pivot away from the global adversary.
At the Senate <a href="https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/5/winning-the-ai-race-strengthening-u-s-capabilities-in-computing-and-innovation_2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hearing</a> put together by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), &#8220;Winning the AI Race: Strengthening U.S. Capabilities in Computing and Innovation,&#8221; China is almost certainly going to be a central topic of discussion. When Cruz announced the hearing, he emphasized the competitive stakes in this global tech competition: &#8220;The way to beat China in the AI race is to outrace them in innovation, not saddle AI developers with European-style regulations.&#8221;
Cruz and his Senate colleagues will have the opportunity to grill industry leaders who are open to working with China, including: Brad Smith, vice chairman and president of Microsoft Corporation; Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI; and Lisa Su, CEO of semiconductor company AMD.
</div>
For decades, Microsoft has <a href="https://news.microsoft.com/about-microsofts-presence-in-china/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">maintained</a> a &#8220;presence&#8221; in China, where co-founder Bill Gates once <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/2000/05/23/yes-more-trade-with-china/80438c20-4fdb-4895-99a6-61776068a636/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> there was an opportunity to tap into a &#8220;deep pool of intellectual talent.&#8221; Even after considering the risks of working on powerful technologies in China, the company kept it as a research hub.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/10/technology/microsoft-china-ai-lab.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> last year that, as tensions &#8220;mounted&#8221; between the United States and China &#8220;over which nations will lead the world&#8217;s technological future,&#8221; Smith and Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella &#8220;debated&#8221; what to do with an AI lab in Beijing that &#8220;became one of the most important &#8230; in the world.&#8221;
Citing people familiar with the situation, the news outlet noted &#8220;the hypothetical risks are that China could hack or otherwise infiltrate the lab, or that its researchers could leave Microsoft to join Chinese companies that work closely with the government.”
According to the report, there were discussions about shutting down the lab or relocating it. However, four sources told The New York Times that Microsoft’s leadership supported continuing operations in China. Labs in Beijing as well as Shanghai remain <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/lab/microsoft-research-asia/about-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listed</a> on the official website for Microsoft Research Asia, as well as locations in Canada and Japan.
&#8220;We are as committed as ever to the lab and the world-class research of this team,” Peter Lee, president of Microsoft Research, said in a statement reported by the newspaper. &#8220;There has been no discussion or advocacy to close Microsoft Research Asia, and we look forward to continuing our research agenda.&#8221;
In another statement, Smith contended, &#8220;The lesson of history is that countries succeed when they learn from the world,&#8221; adding, &#8220;Guardrails and controls are critical, while engagement remains vital.&#8221;
</div>
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OpenAI’s Altman has expressed willingness to collaborate with China on AI development.
In an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEb-5gRdpBE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with Sky News earlier this year, Altman said he would &#8220;like to work with China.&#8221; Asked if he believed the U.S. government would let him, Altman added, &#8220;Do I know that for sure? No. Should we try as hard as we can? Absolutely, yes. And I think that’s really important.&#8221;
Su, of AMD, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/07/amd-ceo-lisa-su-china-chips.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke</a> to CNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Squawk on the Street&#8221; on Wednesday about U.S. restrictions on exports of advanced AI technology to China. She emphasized that &#8220;probably the most important thing is that the U.S. leads in AI today&#8221; while contending that China is an &#8220;important&#8221; market.
&#8220;There should be a balance between export controls for national security as well as ensuring that we get the widest possible adoption of our technology because that&#8217;s a good thing for U.S. jobs and the U.S. economy,&#8221; Su said.
Cruz has long been an enemy of China, which even <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/07/13/ted-cruz-china-sanctions/">sanctioned</a> him in 2020 over actions he took in the Senate against it. He said earlier this year that he has consistently urged President Donald Trump to keep the pressure on China.
&#8220;Everything we can do to de-link our economy from China&#8217;s economy is good for American national security and economic security,&#8221; Cruz said.
The Trump administration has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-trump-energy-sec-to-visit-tn-nuclear-facility-take-part-in-ai-summit">called</a> the race for building super computing technology to power artificial intelligence this era&#8217;s Manhattan Project.
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Sam Altman

AI Industry’s Ties To China Likely To Come Under Congressional Scrutiny

Artificial Intelligence

Technology

Ted Cruz

A breakthrough in the tariff standoff between the United States and China emerged on Tuesday evening.
Treasury Secretary <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0132" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scott Bessent</a> and U.S. Trade Representative <a href="https://ustr.gov/about/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2025/may/ambassador-jamieson-greer-travel-switzerland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jamieson Greer</a> are poised to meet with Chinese officials in Switzerland over the weekend to discuss trade and economic matters, according to their respective agencies. China reportedly <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/06/business/economy/us-china-trade-talks.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> there will be talks.
&#8220;I was going to be in Switzerland to negotiate with the Swiss. Turns out, the Chinese team is traveling through Europe and they will be in Switzerland also. So, we will meet on Saturday and Sunday,&#8221; Bessent <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1919893288275808625" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> during an interview on Fox News Channel&#8217;s &#8220;The Ingraham Angle.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecScottBessent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecScottBessent</a>: &#8220;The world has been coming to the U.S. and China has been the missing piece. I was going to be in Switzerland to negotiate with the Swiss. Turns out, the Chinese team is traveling through Europe and they will be in Switzerland also. So, we will meet on Saturday… <a href="https://t.co/QJZHl98bOx">pic.twitter.com/QJZHl98bOx</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1919893288275808625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
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While many countries received a 90-day reprieve for &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariffs above the baseline rate of 10% last month, the United States <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-issues-90-day-pause-on-most-tariffs-raises-chinas-to-125" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increased</a> the overall penalty on Chinese goods to 145%. Beijing responded by <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/11/china-strikes-back-with-125percent-tariffs-on-us-goods-starting-april-12.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raising</a> tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%.
&#8220;The world has been coming to the U.S. and China has been the missing piece,&#8221; Bessent said. He added later that the United States and China have &#8220;shared interests&#8221; and stressed that the current situation &#8220;isn&#8217;t sustainable, as I&#8217;ve said before, especially on the Chinese side.&#8221;
Protests <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trumps-tariff-sparks-protests-in-china-as-factories-shutter-amid-trade-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener">erupted</a> in China last month as factory workers in Suining, Hunan, and Inner Mongolia demanded unpaid wages and benefits after factory closures triggered by Trump&#8217;s steep tariffs. The economy in the United States has also been impacted, with shipments from China <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/shipments-from-china-fall-as-trumps-tariffs-loom-over-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">falling</a> and growing concerns about price increases.
&#8220;We don&#8217;t want to decouple; what we want is fair trade,&#8221; Bessent said.
Bessent and Greer, who are traveling to Switzerland later this week, are also expected to meet with the country&#8217;s president, Karin Keller-Sutter, to discuss trade.
&#8220;At President Trump’s direction, I am negotiating with countries to rebalance our trade relations to achieve reciprocity, open new markets, and protect America’s economic and national security,&#8221; Greer <a href="https://ustr.gov/about/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2025/may/ambassador-jamieson-greer-travel-switzerland">said</a>. “I look forward to having productive meetings with some of my counterparts as well as visiting with my team in Geneva who all work diligently to advance U.S. interests on a range of multilateral issues.&#8221;
Trump administration officials have been negotiating on trade with a host of nations over the past several weeks and have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sorry-china-bessent-says-deal-with-massive-trade-partner-very-close" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signaled</a> progress in talks with the likes of India, South Korea, and Japan.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

BREAKTHROUGH: Trump Officials Set Date For Direct Trade Talks With China

Global Politics

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives convened a Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security hearing entitled, “Beijing’s Air, Space, and Maritime Surveillance from Cuba: A Growing Threat to the Homeland.”
In June 2023, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/cuba-to-host-secret-chinese-spy-base-focusing-on-u-s-b2fed0e0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, “China and Cuba have reached a secret agreement for China to establish an electronic eavesdropping facility on the island.” The facility would reportedly enable Chinese intelligence services to monitor electronic communications on the American mainland.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, stated:
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Mounting evidence suggests that the Chinese Communist Party is expanding its strategic partnership with the totalitarian communist regime in Cuba to build advanced surveillance infrastructure capable of targeting the United States. This collaboration represents one of the most brazen intelligence operations ever attempted near the American mainland, and places our military operations, commercial activity, and communications squarely in the crosshairs of a hostile foreign power.
Recent satellite imagery and open-source analysis suggest the presence of several Chinese-funded signals intelligence facilities across Cuba. The possibility that these sites are capable of monitoring U.S. military operations, commercial shipping, space launches and sensitive communications is deeply troubling.
</blockquote>
“A mere 90 miles off our shores, the United States’ most formidable 21st century competitor, the People’s Republic of China, has found fertile soil to deploy its arsenal of espionage, digital surveillance, and maritime competition,” Dr. Ryan C. Berg, the director of Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the subcommittee. “When Soviet influence diminished on the island following the end of the Cold War, eyes, ears, and antennas stayed. In many ways, China filled the void.”
“CSI has positively identified about four specific facilities as highly likely sites supporting Chinese intelligence operations targeting the U.S. &#8230; As you can see &#8230; our adversaries are at our doorstep,” he declared.
“We should not be funding a regime that turns around and opens its doors to our greatest adversaries,” Gimenez said. “If reports of rising Chinese activity in Cuba are accurate, then this is no longer just a diplomatic issue. It is a direct security risk to the American people.”
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Cuba and China two flags together textile cloth, fabric texture

House Opens Hearing On Chinese Surveillance Targeting U.S. From Cuba

Cuba

National Intelligence

Spying

Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders took a big step toward protecting her state from the Chinese Communist Party and other nefarious foreign agents.
She signed a bill demanding representatives acting on behalf of hostile foreign adversaries such as the People&#8217;s Republic of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea register publicly, disclose who bankrolls them, and spell out exactly what they are doing in Arkansas politics.
Although this foreign-agent registration is the first statute of its kind in the country, other legislatures should explore similar laws as a defense against hostile foreign actors and their agents covertly swaying policy or political activities at the state level.
Our country is facing a new kind of warfare waged through manipulation, money, and misinformation. Our adversaries are well-funded and coordinated, working relentlessly to sow division and destabilize our society. They’re attacking at the state and local level more and more, hiding behind layers of nonprofits and advocacy groups.
Take Students for Justice in Palestine, for example – a shadowy group that played a prominent role in riling up violent mobs on college campuses last year. This group and others like it (Within Our Lifetime, Jewish Voice for Peace, Palestinian Youth Movement, etc.) routinely accept secret money, raising concerns about potential support from hostile foreign actors.
Some of these organizations are not even registered as nonprofits, and alarmingly, many pro-Hamas groups have established local chapters on college campuses and receive funding from student activity fees.
The CCP perfected this playbook long ago. There are Confucius Institutes embedded on college campuses masquerading as language centers while disseminating the Party’s propaganda. Other groups such as Code Pink echo CCP talking points, attacking American energy policy and championing topics that align with China’s geopolitical objectives.
Research has shown that the CCP’s influence stretches far beyond college campuses. It targets state pension funds, critical infrastructure, farmland near military bases, and even municipal procurement of drones and surveillance tech. Every contract, endowment, or protest it bankrolls is another opportunity to steal American intellectual property, map supply chains, and erode public trust.
It’s no surprise the Federal Bureau of Investigation has labeled the Chinese Communist government a “grave threat to the economic well-being and democratic values of the United States,” and national security agencies from some of our top allies have warned the CCP is engaging in the most “sophisticated theft of intellectual property and expertise in human history.&#8221;
Arkansas has taken the first step in combating this foreign interference. The law will shine a spotlight on every foreign‑funded front group operating in the state. Agents who fail to register face stiff penalties; those tied to hostile nations risk even higher fines.
<div id="attachment_916433" style="width: 875px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-916433" class="size-large wp-image-916433" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-468385788-865x576.jpg" alt="DustyPixel. Getty Images." width="865" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-468385788-865x576.jpg 865w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-468385788-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-468385788-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-468385788-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-468385788-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-468385788-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-468385788-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px" />DustyPixel. Getty Images.</div>
The new law also strengthens campaign finance disclosure laws, exposing individuals and organizations seeking to undermine democratic values through covert influence operations. The law is singularly focused on hostile foreign actors; international businesses and lobbyists representing allied nations are unaffected.
It is encouraging that this effort is also a part of a larger “Communist China Defense” suite of bills from Governor Sanders, with proposals to divest state resources from China and ban land purchases near critical infrastructure.
These measures are a timely reminder that safeguarding our communities begins in the statehouse, not just in Washington. Other legislatures should move quickly to adopt similar protections and fortify America’s democracy and sovereignty against those determined to erode them.
 * * *
Joe Gebbia is the CEO and Founder of State Shield, an organization dedicated to educating state leaders and uniting state and federal efforts to combat the growing threat the Chinese Communist Party poses to America’s security, supply chains, and core values.
The views in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Conservatives Gather For Annual CPAC Conference In Washington DC

Arkansas Strikes First Blow Against Foreign Influence In U.S. Politics

Arkansas

College

Foreign Funding

Iran

North Korea

Opinion

Real estate

Russia

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

U.S. Military

Protests erupted in China late last month after factories were shut down due to President Donald Trump&#8217;s 145% tariff on the country.
Factory workers took to the streets in Suining, a city in the eastern Sichuan province, demanding back pay and claiming that the electronics factory where they work has not paid them since the beginning of the year, according to <a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/china/2025/04/29/china-us-tariff-protests-workers-wages/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Radio Free Asia</a>. Hundreds of workers at Guangxin Sports Goods in the Hunan Province also went on strike after the factory was closed. The company reportedly did not pay the workers their wages or Social Security benefits before shuttering the factory. Meanwhile, construction workers in Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region of northern China, threatened to jump off a building if they were not paid their overdue wages, the outlet reported.
Chinese manufacturing is struggling as the country&#8217;s government pushes back on Trump&#8217;s tariff. According to China’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index, new orders for export were at their lowest level since the COVID pandemic, and manufacturing jobs were at their lowest level since February 2024, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/business/china-pmi-factory-manufacturing.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. China’s National Bureau of Statistics said the concerning decline was due to “sharp changes in the external environment,” adding that there are &#8220;no winners in trade wars,&#8221; according to the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/3f81cec8-6d0c-4a11-97d3-2cbe78a5e284" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Financial Times</a>.
Goldman Sachs estimates that around 16 million jobs in many Chinese industries are at risk due to Trump&#8217;s tariff, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/06/world-news/protests-erupt-in-china-as-trumps-steep-tariffs-bite-extremely-anxious/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. China quietly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/china-feels-the-pain-exempts-40-billion-worth-of-u-s-imports-from-tariffs?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=China+Feels+The+Pain%2C+Exempts+%2440+Billion+Worth+Of+U.S.+Imports+From+Tariffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">moved</a> to help ease the pain of the tariff on its economy last week, exempting around $40 billion worth of U.S. imports from its 125% retaliatory tariff on American goods.
While Trump and his administration officials continue to say they are speaking to the Chinese government behind the scenes, there has still been no formal meeting for trade talks between the two countries. The president <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/trump-tariffs-live-updates-trump-hints-at-pharma-duties-no-plans-to-talk-to-chinas-xi-191201388.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> NBC’s &#8220;Meet the Press&#8221; over the weekend that he would &#8220;lower&#8221; the tariff on China &#8220;at some point,&#8221; adding that &#8220;they want to do business very much.&#8221;
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that the trade war is “not sustainable on the Chinese side” and the Chinese economy is already &#8220;slowing down substantially.” Bessent suggested that the communist government would soon give in to trade talks.
China’s Commerce Ministry <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/world/asia/china-us-tariffs-talks.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that it is &#8220;evaluating&#8221; the United States&#8217; offer to sit down for negotiations, but added that the country will only engage if the Trump administration ends its tariff on Chinese goods.

Trump’s Tariff Sparks Protests In China As Factories Shutter Amid Trade War

Protests

strike

President Donald Trump took action on Monday to stop federal money going toward gain-of-function research, a controversial practice linked to the COVID origins debate, in China and other countries.
The move came in the form of an executive order, which Trump showed off in the Oval Office of the White House, with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya, and others in attendance.
&#8220;It&#8217;s a big deal,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;It could have been that we wouldn&#8217;t have had the problem we had if we had this done earlier,&#8221; he continued, alluding to the COVID pandemic, which began during Trump&#8217;s first term.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨 BREAKING: <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> just signed an executive order protecting Americans from dangerous gain-of-function research.
The order:
— Ends any present and all future Federal funding of dangerous gain-of-function research in countries of concern like China and Iran and in foreign… <a href="https://t.co/4Cn7iQ4i3L">pic.twitter.com/4Cn7iQ4i3L</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1919497045204992144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/improving-the-safety-and-security-of-biological-research/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">order</a> halts federal funding for &#8220;dangerous&#8221; gain-of-function research conducted in China — which is believed to be ground zero for the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019 that led to millions of deaths and various lockdowns around the world — and other foreign countries with &#8220;insufficient&#8221; levels of oversight, citing risks to public health and national security.
Gain-of-function research — in which viruses are enhanced by scientists, often to study potential treatments or prepare for future outbreaks — has become a major focus of the lab leak theory <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cia-assesses-chinese-lab-leak-responsible-for-coronavirus-pandemic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increasingly</a> favored by U.S. agencies.
Last year, the federal government <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hhs-moves-to-defund-ecohealth-alliance-says-action-needed-to-protect-the-public-interest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suspended</a> funds to EcoHealth Alliance, a U.S.-based nonprofit group that was receiving <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/15/health/ecohealth-alliance-peter-daszak-nih-grants.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">millions</a> of dollars in grant money as it faced intense scrutiny for its collaboration with a lab in Wuhan, China, suspected in the COVID outbreak.
Dr. Anthony Fauci denied under oath that NIH funded gain-of-function research in Wuhan, but he did not convince Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who accused the longtime health official of lying to Congress with a criminal <a href="https://x.com/RandPaul/status/1685370259451109376" target="_blank" rel="noopener">referral</a> to the Department of Justice.
While President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-issues-last-minute-pardons-for-fauci-mark-milley-and-jan-6-committee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> Fauci a preemptive pardon before leaving office, the Trump administration may yet have more to say on the matter. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tulsi-gabbard-reveals-when-her-team-will-pinpoint-exact-moment-of-covid-lab-leak" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> her team is working with Bhattacharya and hoped to release information &#8220;very soon&#8221; on gain-of-function and the COVID outbreak.
Trump&#8217;s executive order also mandates stricter oversight, transparency, and enforcement mechanisms for federally funded life-science research, while demanding frameworks for regulating non-federally funded research and nucleic acid synthesis to prevent misuse.
&#8220;Anthony Fauci essentially restarted the bio-weapons arms race and did it under the pretention [sic] of developing vaccines — eventually moving his experiments offshore, mainly to the Wuhan Lab,&#8221; Kennedy <a href="https://x.com/SecKennedy/status/1919543281349734858" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X. &#8220;[The president] today moved to shut down this kind of research in this country and to stop funding it abroad.&#8221;

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