A Chinese national from Wuhan studying for a PhD was arrested on Sunday for attempting to smuggle &#8220;biological materials&#8221; into a laboratory at the University of Michigan, the Department of Justice <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/alien-wuhan-china-charged-making-false-statements-and-smuggling-biological-materials">announced</a> on Monday.
The arrest of Chengxuan Han at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport is the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-arrest-chinese-scholar-for-attempting-to-smuggle-pathogen-used-for-agroterrorism-into-u-s">second time</a> this month that a Chinese citizen with connections to the University of Michigan has been charged with smuggling potential biological threats into the country. According to the United States Attorney&#8217;s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, Han sent four packages containing &#8220;concealed biological material&#8221; from China to the United States. The packages were all addressed to people &#8220;associated with a laboratory at the University of Michigan,&#8221; the DOJ said in a press release.
“The alleged smuggling of biological materials by this alien from a science and technology university in Wuhan, China—to be used at a University of Michigan laboratory—is part of an alarming pattern that threatens our security. The American taxpayer should not be underwriting a PRC-based smuggling operation at one of our crucial public institutions.”
Han is studying at a university in Wuhan — the city where the COVID virus likely leaked from a lab before it shut down the world&#8217;s economies and killed millions of people. The Chinese PhD student was questioned by Customs and Border Protection officers at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Sunday. During the questioning, Han &#8220;made false statements about the packages and the biological materials she had previously shipped to the United States,&#8221; which she later admitted to the FBI, according to the DOJ.
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Han also allegedly told the FBI that she had previously sent the packages and said that they contained biological material related to <a href="https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2023/bioluminescence-may-shine-light-on-roundworm-secrets/#:~:text=Even%20though%20roundworms%20are%20nearly,crop%20losses%20worldwide%20each%20year.">roundworms</a>, a parasitic worm that can &#8220;pose major problems in corn, soybean, peanut and other crops,&#8221; according to the U.S. government. There are many species of roundworms, many of which are uncommon in the United States. Some can cause health issues for humans, such as abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea, if they get into the digestive system, the Cleveland Clinic <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15240-roundworms">states</a>.
FBI Director Kash Patel revealed last week that a Chinese scholar at the University of Michigan was arrested and charged with attempting to smuggle a biological pathogen into the United States that could be used for agricultural terrorism, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-arrest-chinese-scholar-for-attempting-to-smuggle-pathogen-used-for-agroterrorism-into-u-s">reported</a>.
According to federal prosecutors, Michigan scholar Yunqing Jian, along with her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, tried to <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/chinese-nationals-charged-conspiracy-and-smuggling-dangerous-biological-pathogen-us">smuggle</a> Fusarium graminearum into the United States. Fusarium graminearum can cause “head blight,” a disease that can wipe out wheat, barley, maize, and rice crops and “is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year.” The pathogen can also cause “vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock.”

U.S. – China biohazard

‘Alarming Pattern’: Another Chinese National Arrested For Smuggling ‘Biological Materials’ Into U.S.

Communist China

Crime

Department of Justice

Michigan

U.S.

University of Michigan

While the Trump administration has been negotiating with Iran about eliminating its capacity to enrich uranium and thus develop nuclear weapons, Iran has ordered thousands of tons of ammonium perchlorate — a chemical compound which functions as a ballistic-missile ingredient — from China.
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/iran-orders-material-from-china-for-hundreds-of-ballistic-missiles-1e874701" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Wall Street Journal</a> reported that, according to its sources, the shipments “are expected to reach Iran in coming months and could fuel hundreds of ballistic missiles.” The sources named an Iranian company, Pishgaman Tejarat Rafi Novin Co., as having ordered the chemicals from Hong Kong-based Lion Commodities Holdings Ltd.
In early April, the Times of London <a href="https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/iran-arming-proxy-forces-iraq-long-range-missiles-5wpdx0w82">reported</a>, “Iran has transferred long-range missiles to its proxy forces in Iraq for the first time &#8230; The Times has learnt that Tehran has been bulking up its presence in the region by supplying a new batch of weapons to powerful Shia militias in Iraq &#8230; It was the first time long-range surface-to-surface missiles had been in the possession of an Iran-allied militia in Iraq.”
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“Ammonium perchlorate makes up 70% of the standard fuel load of most of Iran’s solid-fueled ballistic missiles,” The Maritime Executive has <a href="https://maritime-executive.com/article/second-shipload-of-ballistic-missile-fuel-nears-iran">noted</a>. “Iranian ballistic missiles which use ammonium perchlorate include medium range Khybar-Shikan and Fattah missiles, and the shorter range Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar missiles. In original and variant form, these have been widely exported to Russia and Axis of Resistance allies, and have been used to attack shipping at sea and targets in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Israel and Ukraine, as well as in the attacks causing injuries to American service personnel at Al Asad in Iraq.”
At the end of April, the Treasury Department designated “six entities and six individuals based in Iran and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for their role in a network procuring ballistic missile propellant ingredients on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).”
“This network has facilitated the procurement of sodium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate from the PRC to Iran,” the Treasury Department <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0116">pointed out</a>. “Sodium perchlorate is used to produce ammonium perchlorate, which is controlled by the <a href="https://www.state.gov/bureau-of-international-security-and-nonproliferation/releases/2025/01/missile-technology-control-regime-mtcr-frequently-asked-questions">Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)</a>, a multilateral political understanding among states that seek to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology.  Both ammonium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate are chemicals usable in solid propellant rocket motors, which are commonly used for ballistic missiles.”
“In November 2022, U.S. naval forces said they intercepted a vessel in the Gulf of Oman carrying over 70 tons of ammonium perchlorate on a route commonly used by Iran to send weapons to the Houthis in Yemen,” The Wall Street Journal wrote.

Iran Missile Anniversary

Iran Orders Thousands Of Tons Of Ballistic-Missile Ingredients From China

ballistic missiles

Global Politics

Iran

Politics

President Donald Trump said early Wednesday morning that Chinese President Xi Jinping is &#8220;very tough&#8221; and &#8220;extremely hard to make a deal with&#8221; as the United States attempts to advance trade talks with China.
While the president&#8217;s top trade officials have met with their Chinese counterparts, Trump has yet to sit down with Xi since imposing massive tariffs on Chinese imports. A senior White House official told <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/02/trump-xi-china-trade-tariffs.html">CNBC</a> that Trump and Xi would likely speak &#8220;very soon,&#8221; potentially this week.
&#8220;I like President Xi of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114623632387180206">wrote</a> on Truth Social.
Last week, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-accuses-china-of-violating-trade-agreement-so-much-for-being-mr-nice-guy?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=11&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Accuses+China+Of+Violating+Trade+Agreement%3A+%E2%80%98So+Much+For+Being+Mr.+Nice+Guy%E2%80%99">accused</a> China of violating its 90-day trade agreement with the United States, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdyXQv5WTYE">said</a> that the talks with China &#8220;are a bit stalled.&#8221;
“Because of this deal, everything quickly stabilized and China got back to business as usual. Everybody was happy!” the president said, referring to the 90-day pause on tariffs. “That is the good news!!! The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!”
Trump&#8217;s frustration with China likely stemmed from the Chinese government&#8217;s slow progress in complying with the 90-day trade truce that froze most tariffs. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC last week that China was not fulfilling its promise to export rare earth minerals to the United States after restricting shipments in response to Trump’s tariffs.
“We haven’t seen the flow of some of those critical minerals as they were supposed to be doing,” Greer said, adding, “China continues to slow down and choke off things like critical minerals and rare Earth magnets.”
Newly appointed Ambassador to China, David Perdue, met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday. During their discussion, Yi accused the United States of imposing &#8220;a series of negative measures for groundless reasons, infringing upon China&#8217;s legitimate rights and interests,&#8221; according to a <a href="https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202506/04/content_WS683fa6f3c6d0868f4e8f3109.html">readout</a> from the Chinese government. Perdue said that during the meeting, he &#8220;emphasized President Trump&#8217;s priorities on trade, fentanyl, and illegal immigration,&#8221; adding that &#8220;communication is vital&#8221; for the U.S.-China relationship.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
In a meeting today with Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office Director and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, I emphasized President Trump&#39;s priorities on trade, fentanyl, and illegal immigration. Communication is vital to the 🇺🇸-🇨🇳 relationship. <a href="https://t.co/RszJpF6ItB">pic.twitter.com/RszJpF6ItB</a>
&mdash; U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue (@USAmbChina) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAmbChina/status/1929922392089919653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Bessent <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-trade-trump-xi-conversation/">told</a> CBS News in an interview on Sunday that he remains &#8220;confident&#8221; that the U.S.-China trade talks will be &#8220;ironed out.&#8221;
&#8220;The fact that they are withholding some of the products that they agreed to release during our agreement — maybe it&#8217;s a glitch in the Chinese system, maybe it&#8217;s intentional,&#8221; Bessent said. &#8220;We&#8217;ll see after the president speaks with the party chairman.&#8221;

Donald Trump/Xi Jinping

Trump Says Xi Is ‘Extremely Hard To Make A Deal With’ As China Trade Negotiations Stall

China

Donald Trump

Economy

Executive

Tariffs

Xi Jinping

A Chinese scholar at the University of Michigan was arrested by the FBI and charged with attempting to smuggle a biological pathogen into the United States that could be used for agricultural terrorism, according to documents unsealed in federal court on Tuesday.
Prosecutors said that Michigan scholar Yunqing Jian, along with her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, tried to smuggle a biological pathogen into the United States last July, The Detroit News <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/06/03/chinese-scholar-at-um-tried-to-smuggle-biological-pathogen-into-the-u-s-feds-say/84008953007/">reported</a>. The pathogen, called Fusarium graminearum, causes &#8220;head blight,&#8221; a disease that can wipe out wheat, barley, maize, and rice crops and &#8220;is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year,&#8221; <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/chinese-nationals-charged-conspiracy-and-smuggling-dangerous-biological-pathogen-us">according</a> to the U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. The pathogen can also cause &#8220;vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock.&#8221;
U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. accused the suspects, who include &#8220;a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party,&#8221; of pursuing a &#8220;scheme&#8221; of &#8220;the gravest national security concerns.&#8221;
&#8220;These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a ‘potential agroterrorism weapon’ into the heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme,&#8221; Gorgon said.
FBI Director Kash Patel <a href="https://x.com/fbidirectorkash/status/1930044884284523001?s=46&amp;t=o-U3qwC25WnWaylJ0oeG7Q">said</a> the arrest of Jian and Liu &#8220;is a sobering reminder that the CCP is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences&#8230; putting American lives and our economy at serious risk.&#8221;
Jian&#8217;s boyfriend was caught with the pathogen by Customs and Border Protection officers at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
&#8220;When Customs and Border Protection officers questioned Liu, he made false statements to CBP officers about the purpose of his visit to the United States, and his knowledge of the existence of the biological pathogen in his possession,&#8221; an FBI special agent wrote in the criminal filing, according to The Detroit News.
&#8220;Ultimately, Liu admitted to smuggling the pathogen and stated that he brought the pathogen into the United States so that he could conduct research on it at a laboratory at the University of Michigan where his girlfriend, Jian, worked,&#8221; the agent added.
After receiving a doctorate in plant pathogens from China&#8217;s Zhejiang University, Jian was given money through a Chinese foundation funded by the communist government to conduct post-doctoral research on Fusarium graminearum, according to prosecutors. Jian will make her first court appearance on Tuesday afternoon. Both Jian and Liu are charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud.
Jian&#8217;s case marks the second criminal complaint unsealed in the past week involving a Chinese citizen at the University of Michigan. Last Friday, prosecutors unsealed a criminal case against a Chinese student who illegally voted in the 2024 election. The Chinese national, who was in the United States legally, successfully obtained a ballot and cast his vote at an early voting location last October, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/non-citizen-from-china-charged-after-casting-ballot-in-michigan-his-vote-will-still-count">reported</a>. The Chinese student recently fled the country and went back to China, according to the criminal complaint.
Last week, the Trump administration said that is moving to &#8220;<a href="https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/05/new-visa-policies-put-america-first-not-china/">aggressively revoke</a>&#8221; Chinese student visas, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/06/01/china-us-students-national-security-threat/">adding</a> that the United States &#8220;will not tolerate the [Chinese Communist Party’s] exploitation of U.S. universities or theft of U.S. research intellectual property or technologies to grow its military power, conduct intelligence collection or repress voices of opposition.&#8221;

Pathogen

Kash Patel Says Chinese Smuggled ‘Dangerous Fungus’ Into U.S. To ‘Target Food Supply’

Pathogens

Trump Administration

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

World

Tensions flare up between the United States and China amid a major defense summit in Asia; the political and legal battle over males competing in female sports ramps up in California; Trump hammers out what’s being called the biggest steel deal in history; and the FBI is investigating a suspected terror attack after a firebombing of a pro-Israel event in Colorado.
It’s Monday, June 2, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
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<h2>United States &amp; China Trade Barbs At Asian Security Summit</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-927843" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MRN-6.2.25-Mon_H1-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MRN-6.2.25-Mon_H1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MRN-6.2.25-Mon_H1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MRN-6.2.25-Mon_H1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MRN-6.2.25-Mon_H1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MRN-6.2.25-Mon_H1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></div>
Topline: Tensions between the United States and China flare up amid a major defense summit in Asia.
A major defense summit in Asia called the Shangri-La Dialogue that began Saturday has already led to some positive partnerships – as well as the U.S. and China trading barbs. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned about China’s growing military threat, while China accused the United States of “stoking flames and creating tensions in the Asia-Pacific.”
“China is ‘preparing to use military force’ to alter the situation there in Asia,” Hegseth <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/31/world/video/hegseth-singapore-china-threat-taiwan-vrtc">said</a>. “There’s no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent.”
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told The Daily Wire that despite saber rattling from Beijing, it’s unlikely that they’ll engage in military action against regional rivals in the immediate future. Gabbard also told The Daily Wire that much of the conference was spent working with allies to shape policy on a range of issues, not only with respect to China, but also counterterrorism operations and joint law enforcement efforts against cartels and other international criminal organizations engaged in drug trafficking, human trafficking, sex trafficking, and other illegal enterprises across international borders.
“The overwhelming message that [Secretary Hegseth] delivered is the message that we hear from President Trump, which is that he is the president of peace,” Gabbard said. “The goal here within this region, as well as in others around the world, is to be able to achieve that … to come together and engage in dialogue, engage in diplomacy … [and] best pursue our goal of peace and stability that best serve our respective peoples in our countries and around the world.”
<h2>California Track Championship Violates Title IX, Stokes Trans Athlete Controversy</h2>
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Topline: The debate over transgender-identifying athletes in women’s sports is flaring up again, this time in California, where, in defiance of federal policy, a 16-year-old male won two state track and field titles.
On Saturday, protesters gathered outside a stadium in Clovis, California, which was hosting the California Interscholastic Federation State Track and Field Championships. AB Hernandez, a junior male athlete, took first place in the girls’ high jump and triple jump, and second in the long jump. Some held “Save Girls’ Sports” signs, while others supported Hernandez with pro-transgender messages. An airplane even flew overhead with a banner reading “No Boys in Girls’ Sports,” funded by groups like the Independent Council on Women’s Sports. Meanwhile, a pro-trans protester was arrested for assaulting a “Save Girls’ Sports” demonstrator.
Hernandez’s victory flies directly in the face of President Trump’s February 5 executive order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,&#8221; which bars boys who identify as girls from competing in women’s and girls’ sports, citing fairness for female athletes. Trump specifically called out Hernandez on social media, claiming he’s “practically unbeatable,” and threatened to cut federal funding to California if Hernandez competed. California, however, upheld its state law, which allows transgender-identifying students to play based on their professed gender identity.
The U.S. Department of Justice has now launched a Title IX investigation into whether California’s policies violate girls’ rights.
Julie Hamill, President of the California Justice Center, told <a href="https://x.com/JenniferSey/status/1928801014678696268">CNN</a> that California deserves to lose federal funding over its defiance of Title IX policy, and she thinks Hernandez is being mistreated here as well.
“I view AB Hernandez as the victim in this situation,” Hamill said. “I feel for him, and I feel that he has been lied to for his entire life, and it&#8217;s probably very destabilizing and difficult for him right now to realize that what he&#8217;s been told is not actually reality. He cannot become a girl. What he can do is compete in the male category.”
<h2>U.S. Steel Merges With Japanese Company, Announces Billions In American Investments</h2>
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Topline: President Trump hammers out a massive steel deal that Pennsylvania officials say could transform the industry.
President Trump announced a blockbuster deal to bring billions of dollars in new investments to the American steel industry. The news comes as a near record number of Americans say the country is heading in the right direction.
In 2023, Japan’s Nippon Steel offered $15 billion to acquire the iconic U.S. Steel, the second-largest steel producer in America. The company’s board and shareholders approved the sale, but President Joe Biden blocked the acquisition, saying it was critical to national security to maintain American ownership of U.S. Steel. But over the weekend, President Trump announced that after lengthy negotiations, Nippon had agreed to a merger that would preserve American ownership of U.S. Steel. The agreement requires that a majority of the company’s board be American citizens, and C-suite employees, including the CEO, must be American as well. The U.S. government itself will hold a “golden share” of the company, giving it veto power over key decisions.
“We&#8217;re going to produce our own metal, unleash our own energy, secure our own future, build our country, control our destiny,” Trump said during the announcement in Pennsylvania. “We are once again going to put Pennsylvania steel into the backbone of America like never before.”
As part of the agreement, Nippon will invest more than $14 billion into new steel facilities across Indiana, Minnesota, Arkansas, and Alabama — some estimates say the deal will create nearly 150,000 new American jobs. According to Trump, every U.S. Steel employee will receive a $5,000 bonus. As part of his effort to protect American steel manufacturing, the president also announced he would double the tariff on foreign steel from 25% to 50%.
Last month, amid tariff uncertainty and fears of a recession, President Trump’s <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/approval/donald-trump/approval-rating">job approval rating</a> was on the decline, falling on average to 45% approval and 52% disapproval. But following a flurry of trade deals and encouraging jobs and inflation reports, he’s gaining ground fast and is now less than two points underwater, with a 48% average approval rating, which is higher than at any point in his first term. Nearly 44% of Americans now say the country is on the right track, the highest share since President Barack Obama’s first year in office in 2009.
<h2>Egyptian National Attacks Pro-Israel Demonstration, Detained By Authorities</h2>
At least six people were injured Sunday afternoon in a firebombing attack at a pro-Israel event in Boulder, Colorado. Police say victims suffered “injuries consistent with burns.” Officials detained the suspect and have since identified him as Mohamed Sabry Soliman. Three DHS senior officials told <a href="https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/1929343593602597179">Fox News</a> that the suspect is an Egyptian national who illegally overstayed his visa after entering the United States during the Biden administration. FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau is “fully investigating” what they believe to be a “targeted terror attack.”

MRN 060225 Thumbnail V1

Morning Brief: Defense Summit Drama & Trump’s Steel Revival

California

Colorado

gender ideology

Japan

Media

Morning Wire

Pete Hegseth

Steel industry

trade

Transgender Athletes

Tulsi Gabbard

Women's sports

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that the State Department would start to “aggressively” revoke the visas of Chinese students. 
Rubio said that the revocations would focus on those with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in “critical fields.” Rubio’s actions come after he froze all new student visa interviews pending the development of new admittance guidelines. 
“Under President Trump’s leadership, the U.S. State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields,” Rubio announced in a statement. “We will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong.”
There are roughly 275,000 Chinese students studying in the United States. 
Chinese theft of American intellectual property has been a problem for years, and several Chinese students have been charged and convicted of espionage. 
In 2020, a Chinese woman studying at Boston University named Yanqing Ye <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/fbi-wanted-yanqing-ye-china/">fled</a> the country after being accused of working for China while studying chemistry, physics, and biomedical engineering. According to the FBI, Ye was a lieutenant in the Chinese military but did not disclose that when she applied for a student visa. She reportedly gathered intelligence on two American scientists. 
In another <a href="https://abc7chicago.com/post/convicted-ex-chicago-illinois-institute-technology-college-student-chaoqun-ji-part-us-china-spy-swap/15596442/">incident</a>, a Chinese student named Chaoqun Ji, who was attending the Illinois Institute of Technology, was convicted in 2023 of acting as an unregistered agent for China after gathering information on defense contractors. 
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The targeting of Chinese student visas comes as the Trump administration <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-admin-freezes-all-new-student-visa-interviews-in-major-blow-to-elite-universities?author=Nathan+Gay&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Admin+Freezes+All+New+Student+Visa+Interviews+In+Major+Blow+To+Elite+Universities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has increased vetting</a> for what foreign students are allowed into the country. On Tuesday, Rubio signed a cable directing U.S. embassies to “not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued … which we anticipate in the coming days.”
The pause affects all applicants for student visas while the administration reportedly prepares guidance for expanded social media vetting requirements.
Rubio also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rubio-announces-new-visa-restrictions-for-foreigners-who-censor-americans?author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Rubio+Announces+New+Visa+Restrictions+For+Foreigners+Who+Censor+Americans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took steps</a> on Wednesday to implement new visa restrictions targeting foreigners “complicit” in censoring Americans.
“Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign nationals who are responsible for censorship of protected expression in the United States,” Rubio said. “It is unacceptable for foreign officials to issue or threaten arrest warrants on U.S. citizens or U.S. residents for social media posts on American platforms while physically present on U.S. soil.”
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/group-trying-to-convince-asians-that-america-is-oppressive-has-ties-to-chinese-state-media">Group Trying To Convince Asians That America Is Oppressive Has Ties To Chinese State Media</a>

Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies on the 2026 Budget In House Hearing

Rubio Promises To ‘Aggressively’ Target Students Tied To Chinese Communist Party

Education

Marco Rubio

Spying

State Department

At least five people are dead and 19 more are injured after an explosion at a chemical plant rocked the eastern Shandong province in China on Tuesday.
The explosion, which broke windows as far as two miles away and sent massive plumes of smoke hundreds of feet into the air, occurred at the Gaomi Youdao Chemical Co. in the city of Weifang, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-chemical-plant-explosion-c6cf0f35f996654221e9fb8de7d9fcee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The chemical plant manufactures pesticides, along with chemicals used in the medical industry.
An additional six people have been reported missing after the explosion. The plant employs over 500 people, according to the AP. It is the world&#8217;s largest producer of chlorpyrifos, an insecticide used to control pests in crops and homes, according to the <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3311981/explosion-hits-chemical-plant-eastern-chinese-province-shandong" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South China Morning Post</a>. In the first eight months of 2024, the Gaomi Youdao Chemical Co. reportedly identified and rectified over 800 safety hazards.
Over 230 fire personnel were dispatched to the scene of the explosion, and no cause has been given yet. A student at a nearby school told China Central Television that after he heard the explosion, he saw dirt-yellow smoke with some redness in it, adding that there was a funny smell. The students were reportedly given masks and told to leave them on their faces. Officials have yet to determine the environmental effects of the explosion.
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China is the world leader in chemical production, an industry where the communist country has witnessed multiple deadly explosions and fires in recent years. The massive blast in Weifang on Tuesday comes six years after an explosion at a chemical plant in Yancheng, China, killed 78 people. In 2015, over 170 people died or went missing after a fire broke out at a warehouse storing hazardous chemicals in Tianjin.

Chemical Plant Explosion

Massive Explosion At Chinese Chemical Plant Kills At Least Five, Injures Dozens

Chemicals

Death

Explosion

General

President Donald Trump on Saturday told Walmart CEO Doug McMillon not to raise prices for Americans, but to instead &#8220;eat the tariffs.&#8221;
Trump recently dropped tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% down to 30%, but this week, McMillion said Walmart still could not absorb the extra costs, and will have to increase prices.
&#8220;Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain,&#8221; the president posted on Truth Social. &#8220;Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected.&#8221;
&#8220;Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, &#8216;EAT THE TARIFFS,&#8217; and not charge valued customers ANYTHING,&#8221; Trump wrote. &#8220;I’ll be watching, and so will your customers!!!&#8221;
McMillon made comments about having to raise prices, specifically over tariffs on China, during an earnings call on Thursday.
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmaqx46zq00193b6mokd0s1nm@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true" data-analytics-observe="off">“We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren’t able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins.&#8221;
“The higher tariffs will result in higher prices,” McMillon added.
<div id="attachment_921641" style="width: 933px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-921641" class="wp-image-921641 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1921426381-923x576.jpg" alt="Walmart Inc. President and CEO Doug McMillon delivers a keynote address during CES 2024 at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas on January 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada." width="923" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1921426381-923x576.jpg 923w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1921426381-300x187.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1921426381-768x479.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1921426381.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 923px) 100vw, 923px" />Ethan Miller/Getty Images</div>
There have been mixed reactions online to Trump&#8217;s demand for Walmart to &#8220;eat&#8221; the extra costs. Some have noted that Trump had previously suggested that China would likely &#8220;eat&#8221; the extra costs themselves.
However, others, like journalist Batya Ungar-Sargon, railed against Walmart for hurting Americans while she said they &#8220;brag&#8221; about being a pro-American corporation.
“This is absolutely unacceptable and infuriating,&#8221; Ungar-Sargon said on Fox News airwaves this week, following McMillon&#8217;s comments. &#8220;Walmart walks around bragging that 75% of the products that they sell are made here in the United States. Why are you raising prices?&#8221;
&#8220;Do you know what Walmart’s yearly profits were last year? 169 billion dollars,&#8221; Ungar-Sargon continued. &#8220;Don’t raise prices. Support the president, support the agenda, support the American working class.”
Ungar-Sargon added that she doesn&#8217;t see these potential price hikes as &#8220;political,&#8221; but more about &#8220;rampant greed.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon warns that they will be raising prices in response to President Trump’s tariffs. Shoppers will likely see price increases toward the end of May and more in June.
Batya Ungar-Sargon: “This is absolutely unacceptable and infuriating. Walmart walks around… <a href="https://t.co/JpONWTgQRE">pic.twitter.com/JpONWTgQRE</a>
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) <a href="https://twitter.com/RedWave_Press/status/1923354165436195059?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-wholesale-prices-see-biggest-drop-in-5-years-flying-in-the-face-of-economists-predictions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. Wholesale Prices See Biggest Drop In 5 Years, Flying In The Face Of Economists’ Predictions</a>

‘EAT THE TARIFFS’: Trump Unloads On Walmart CEO For Saying He’s Raising Prices

Walmart

President Trump signs an executive order to stop Big Pharma from charging Americans more than their European counterparts. Stocks surge after tariffs are slashed, as the U.S. and China announce a temporary truce in the trade war. And, Air Force 1 needs an update. Will Trump accept the offer of a $400 million “flying palace” from Qatar?
It’s Tuesday, May 13, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
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<h2>Trump EO To Lower Drug Prices</h2>
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Topline: President Trump signed what he called “one of the most consequential Executive Orders in our Country’s history” on Monday to dramatically lower the prices of prescription drugs.
Trump said his newest executive order would lower drug prices in the U.S. by up to 80% by implementing the “most favored nation” policy, cutting out industry “middlemen,” and compelling the European Union and other allies to pay for research and development of various drugs. He argued that since other nations set price controls for drugs, it’s been America that’s left taking on all these research and development costs.
“Starting today, the U.S. will no longer subsidize the healthcare of foreign countries,” Trump said. “We will no longer tolerate profiteering and price gouging from Big Pharma. But again, it was really the countries that forced Big Pharma to do things that, frankly, I’m not sure they were comfortable doing.”
The order will allow Americans to buy drugs directly from manufacturers, cutting out pharma “middlemen.” These so-called “middlemen,” pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), work with insurance providers to negotiate prices with drug companies in exchange for including the drugs in their coverage. Critics say PBMs are not transparent and don’t have an incentive to lower drug prices for Americans. The order also sets a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-prescription-drugs-prices-most-favored-nation-4c620a32ccd193b793ba1558f3fe93e0">30-day deadline</a> for HHS to work with drugmakers to reduce the costs of these prescription drugs. If a deal is not reached, a new rule will kick in that will effectively lower the drug price to what other nations are paying for them.
“The fundamental problem in healthcare is we&#8217;ve had non-competitive markets,” Dr. Marty Makary, the head of the Food and Drug Administration, <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1921938509826298179">said</a> on Monday. “We can do little things around the edges, or we can transform those markets to competitive markets and that&#8217;s what this executive order does today.&#8221;
Democrats, who as a general rule have opposed President Trump’s policies, have remained mostly silent on this executive order. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), an independent and democratic socialist who caucuses with the Democrats, said that he agrees with Trump about the high prices of prescription drugs, but he did not back this EO, arguing that it would be blocked by the courts. Trump implemented a similar regulation for certain cancer drugs during his first term. The Biden administration, however, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-says-he-will-sign-executive-order-aimed-at-lowering-drug-prices-2a5b9b28">abandoned</a> the regulation after a court struck it down on procedural grounds. Sanders also made it clear that he doesn&#8217;t agree that the European Union or Canada needs to pay their &#8220;fair share&#8221; – he thinks prices should be lowered for everyone.
<h2>Stock Market Soars As U.S./China Slash Tariffs</h2>
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Topline: Stocks soared Monday after the United States and China formally agreed to a temporary trade deal that will dramatically lower tariffs across the board.
After formal negotiations in Switzerland last weekend, China agreed to cut tariffs on American imports from 125% to just 10%, while the United States will cut rates from 145% to 10%. Beijing also agreed to eliminate or suspend non-tariff countermeasures against the United States, which means that their ban on rare earth mineral exports could come to an end.
&#8220;Yesterday, we achieved a total reset with China,” President Trump <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1921928176286020061">said</a> on Monday. “After productive talks in Geneva, both sides now agree to reduce the tariffs imposed after April 2nd to 10% for 90 days as negotiators continue on the largest structural issues.&#8221;
This deal is a stunning reversal of hostilities — ahead of last weekend’s meetings, for example, even Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent seemed to think a deal was a long way off, saying his goal was “de-escalation… not a big trade deal.”
Clearly, the Chinese were more willing to negotiate than many expected — Beijing signed on to a joint statement that referenced a “spirit of mutual opening, continued communication, cooperation, and mutual respect.” That’s quite a different message than we heard last month, when the Chinese were calling the U.S. bullies who would be made to pay. As more proof of the improvement in relations, the two sides also agreed to establish a formal process for streamlined trade talks in the future, including using a third country as a mediator.
However: The Trump administration has made clear that while it is willing to open up the flow of certain Chinese goods, it wants to break U.S. reliance on essential imports like weapons, technology, and pharmaceuticals.
“The United States will continue a strategic rebalancing in many areas that were exposed as supply chain weaknesses during COVID,” Secretary Bessent <a href="https://x.com/CookedGooseinFL/status/1921880651646611609">said</a> on Monday. “Whether it’s medicines, whether it’s semi-conductors, steel … we will continue moving towards U.S. independence or reliable supplies from allies.”
Following news of the deal, the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped more than 1000 points, the S&amp;P 500 rose more than 3%, erasing all its losses from last month, and the NASDAQ shot up more than 4%, marking a 20% increase from its recent low in April.
<h2>&#8220;Flying Palace&#8221; To Replace Air Force One?</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-919345" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_02_33_26.Still003.jpeg" alt="" width="640" height="360" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_02_33_26.Still003.jpeg 640w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_02_33_26.Still003-300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></div>
Topline: Trump is off to the Middle East this week for what the White House promises to be a trip of dealmaking and diplomacy. But the president’s trip is off to a controversial start thanks to a story about a $400 million Qatari airplane.
On Sunday, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-administration-poised-accept-palace-sky-gift-trump/story?id=121680511">ABC News</a> reported that the Qatari royal family planned to give Trump a $400 million super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet described as a “floating palace.” The plane would reportedly be available for Trump to use in lieu of Air Force One by the end of his term, and then – according to some initial reports – transferred to his presidential library. Trump says it’s merely the Qataris helping the United States replace Air Force One, which is 40 years old, and, according to Trump, in need of some serious upgrades. Speaking to reporters before departing for the Middle East yesterday, Trump said the Qataris knew Boeing had delayed production of the new jet he wanted, and stepped in to help.
“I think that was a very nice gesture,” the president <a href="https://x.com/factpostnews/status/1921942334930907441">said</a>. &#8220;Now, I could be a stupid person and say &#8216;Oh no, we don’t want a free plane&#8217; … I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer.”
However, not everyone sees this as just a goodwill gesture. Qatar is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, and uses its wealth to gain influence in the United States – and many, many other countries. It frequently invites politicians on luxurious, state-funded junkets to the Middle East. But that influence-buying sparks suspicion, because Qatar also uses its oil money to bankroll Hamas terrorists and Middle Eastern news powerhouse Al Jazeera. The country has also been accused of a lengthy list of human rights violations, so any collaboration with the Qataris is bound to raise some eyebrows.
Notable MAGA loyalists, including pro-Trump activist Laura Loomer, were quick to <a href="https://x.com/LauraLoomer/status/1921615017138618439">condemn</a> the decision, warning that accepting the plane was bad optics at best, and a security risk at worst. Trump, for his part, is staying on the offensive, calling accusations of conflict of interest “fake news.”
Qatar’s media attaché to the United States has been making the rounds since the ABC story broke, telling reporters that the aircraft transfer would only be used temporarily, and that nothing has been finalized yet.

MorningWire-0428-2

Morning Brief: Qatar Force One And Trump’s ‘Consequential’ Drug Price Plan

Big Pharma

Prescription Drugs

Qatar

The Trump administration announces breakthrough deals: a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and a temporary trade deal with China. Team Trump is turning up the heat on anyone obstructing immigration officials after a Democrat mayor is arrested in New Jersey. And President Donald Trump picks a new surgeon general.
It’s Monday, May 12, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
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<h2>The Art of The Deal</h2>
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Topline: The Trump administration brokers a ceasefire between India and Pakistan while also hammering out a temporary trade deal with China.
After days of deadly fighting and rising global tensions, the United States has brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and on Monday morning announced an agreement with China to lower tariffs on each other for 90 days.
A joint statement issued by the White House and China&#8217;s Ministry of Commerce said both parties had committed to the pause.
The deal means that President Donald Trump’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.
Meanwhile, since they first gained independence in 1947, India and Pakistan have feuded over religion, border disputes, and politics. Last month, a terror attack by Pakistani Islamists on the contested territory of Kashmir sparked the most significant conflict between the two in decades. India responded with air and missile strikes on what they called terrorist camps, but a number of civilians were reportedly killed, including worshippers at two mosques. Pakistan responded with airstrikes of their own, and within 48 hours, the two sides, both of which have large nuclear arsenals, were deploying kamikaze drones, fighter jets, and conventional artillery, targeting each other’s air defense systems – but, again, also killing civilians. By Friday, both countries had begun to evacuate towns along the border, and dozens of airports and school systems were shut down, as thousands of troops were mobilized.
However, there was overwhelming global pressure on both countries to stand down. The United States, China, and Russia, who rarely agree on anything, each lobbied for de-escalation. On Saturday, President Trump stunned the world by announcing the United States had brokered a ceasefire. Writing on Truth Social, he <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122132461766723345&amp;set=a.122114684240723345">said,</a> “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence.”
We don’t yet know what the Trump administration may have offered, but there’s a good chance it involved economic incentives – like many other nations, India has been lobbying Washington for lower tariffs since Trump’s Liberation Day formula was announced. India refused to acknowledge America’s role in the deal, but Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif removed any doubt, saying, “We thank President Trump for his leadership and proactive role for peace in the region. Pakistan appreciates the United States for facilitating this outcome.” He went on to thank Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their “valuable contributions for peace.”
<h2>Newark Mayor Arrested At Detention Center During Anti-Deportation Protest</h2>
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Topline: Federal authorities arrested Newark Democratic Mayor Ras Baraka outside of an immigration detention facility on Friday. The Trump administration has threatened to arrest and charge even more Democrats who intervene in immigration enforcement.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka – who is also a candidate for New Jersey governor – was charged with trespassing on Friday after he joined a protest at an ICE facility in Newark. Federal authorities say Baraka entered the compound’s gates with a mob as a bus of detainees entered the facility and refused multiple directives to leave.
“We will not stand for anybody getting in the way of getting rid of criminals in this country,” acting New Jersey U.S. Attorney Alina Habba told Fox News, adding that “[Baraka] was given multiple opportunities to remove himself, failed to do so, and has been detained and will be charged.”
Three Democratic members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation – Robert Menendez Jr., Bonnie Watson Coleman, and LaMonica McIver – also entered the facility during the protest. They said they were there to tour the facility in line with their oversight function and condemned Baraka’s arrest.
“[The arrest] was an act of intimidation not just to the mayor, not just to us, but to everyone watching,” Menendez <a href="https://x.com/Acyn/status/1920931260517806572">said</a>.
Congresswoman Coleman has <a href="https://x.com/RepBonnie/status/1920989902520340582">said</a> that the DHS lied about what happened. She claims the Democratic lawmakers entered the detention center while being escorted by the guards and then came out to talk with Baraka, and that a scuffle broke out between federal authorities and the protesters after the congressional delegation left the facility.
Meanwhile, the president has continued to make the deportation of illegal immigrants a priority. On Friday, in response to various legal challenges, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said the administration is considering suspending due process for potential deportees. “The Constitution is clear … the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion. So it&#8217;s an option we&#8217;re actively looking at.”
<h2>Trump Nominates New Surgeon General</h2>
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Topline: President Trump has nominated Dr. Casey Means – a popular MAHA figure – for the position of surgeon general.
Means is a Stanford University-trained surgeon and the author of “Good Energy,” which discusses metabolic dysfunction and chronic illness. While at Stanford, she said she became disillusioned with how she saw medicine being practiced, especially when it came to chronic disease. She’s a critic of Big Pharma, thinks Americans are overmedicated, and advocates for prevention and reversal of such diseases by addressing root causes, like food, exercise, and environment.
“While there&#8217;s absolutely a place for surgeons when it comes to acute issues,” Means told Morning Wire last September, “I really need to go out and actually address the bigger issue that is just plaguing Americans across the lifespan today, which is chronic diseases tied to food that are largely preventable and reversible and are not being talked about by the health care system.”
The sudden announcement came after President Trump withdrew his previous nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat one day before she was scheduled to appear before the Senate for confirmation hearings. Nesheiwat was criticized by the MAHA crowd and conservatives over her advocacy for vaccines and masks during the COVID pandemic. Means, on the other hand, advised HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his 2024 presidential run and reportedly helped <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-surgeon-general-laura-loomer-794da62da02d5699683e3b1540b8a31f">broker</a> Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump.
Nicole Shanahan, who was RFK’s 2024 running mate, posted online that Kennedy had promised her Means would never work for him in HHS. Shanahan went so far as to call Casey and her brother, Calley Means, “Manchurian assets.” There’s some speculation that Shanahan’s frustration stems from Means being too pro-vaccine.
Kennedy weighed in on the drama and fully backed Means.
“The Surgeon General is a symbol of moral authority who stands against the financial and institutional gravities that tend to corporatize medicine,” Kennedy said. “Casey Means was born to hold this job.”

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After two days of talks in Switzerland, President Donald Trump&#8217;s envoys touted what they said was significant movement toward reaching a trade deal with China.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters on Sunday that there was <a href="https://x.com/business/status/1921615311838577125" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;substantial progress&#8221;</a> and a &#8220;great deal of productivity&#8221; in the discussions with Chinese officials.
&#8220;We will be giving details tomorrow, but I can tell you that the talks were productive,&#8221; Bessent added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecScottBessent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecScottBessent</a> says there has been a &#8220;great deal of productivity&#8221; in trade talks with China: &#8220;We will be giving details tomorrow, but I can tell you that the talks were productive.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/v85uugnMnV">pic.twitter.com/v85uugnMnV</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1921597140784013614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The delegation from China also indicated the negotiations went well.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said the talks marked &#8220;an important first step&#8221; and promised a joint statement, according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-11/us-china-made-substantial-progress-in-trade-talks-bessent-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomberg</a>.
As it stands, the United States imposed an overall tariff rate on Chinese goods at 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%.
China&#8217;s delegation <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/china-dispatches-top-security-chief-to-face-trump-team-over-fentanyl-crisis-tariffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> included President Xi Jinping&#8217;s top security official, a sign the discussions broached the fentanyl crisis in addition to trade.
The world&#8217;s two largest economies have been roiled as a result of the trade war, which escalated with Trump&#8217;s &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariffs last month.
Bessent noted that he and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer spoke to Trump the night before.
&#8220;He is fully informed of what is going on,&#8221; Bessent said of the president.
Trump himself posted about the talks on Truth Social in the evening on Saturday.
&#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>.
&#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; the president added.
Greer, who was standing beside Bessent, said China&#8217;s officials &#8220;worked very diligently&#8221; and were &#8220;very tough negotiators.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/USTradeRep?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USTradeRep</a> in Geneva: &#8220;The U.S. has a massive $1.2 trillion trade deficit, so the President declared a national emergency &#8230; We&#8217;re confident that the deal we struck with our Chinese partners will help us work toward resolving that national emergency.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/1kuPhzzGLp">pic.twitter.com/1kuPhzzGLp</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1921597758911267219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
He echoed what Bessent said, declaring how the past two days were &#8220;very constructive,&#8221; and then made a stark observation about the timeframe.
&#8220;It&#8217;s important to understand how quickly we were able to come to agreement, which reflects that perhaps the differences were not so large as maybe thought,&#8221; Greer said.
&#8220;That being said, there was a lot of groundwork that went into these two days,&#8221; he continued.
Greer also emphasized that it was &#8220;important&#8221; to remember why they were there in the first place.
&#8220;The United States has a massive $1.2 trillion trade deficit, so the president declared a national emergency and imposed tariffs,&#8221; Greer said.
&#8220;We&#8217;re confident that the deal we struck with our Chinese partners will help us work toward resolving that national emergency,&#8221; he added.
Heading into the high-stakes talks, Trump suggested that Bessent had room to offer a lower rate.
“80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B,” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114477628854583525" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a Truth Social post on Friday.
Trump officials have been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sorry-china-bessent-says-deal-with-massive-trade-partner-very-close" target="_blank" rel="noopener">negotiating</a> on trade with a host of nations impacted by the president&#8217;s &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariffs, which hinge on a national emergency declaration.
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.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (L) and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer

Trump’s Envoys Tease China Trade Breakthrough, Stress How ‘Quickly’ It Came Together

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Scott Bessent

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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.

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