United States Vice President JD Vance has called on China to “choose the path of reason” amid rising tensions in the latest trade confrontation between Washington and Beijing, insisting that President Donald Trump’s administration holds stronger negotiating leverage.
Speaking on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, Vance said the White House would respond firmly if Beijing acts aggressively in the ongoing dispute. “If they respond in a highly aggressive manner, I guarantee you, the president of the United States has far more cards than the People’s Republic of China,” he said. “If, however, they’re willing to be reasonable, we’ll be reasonable too.”
His comments come as both nations exchange tariff threats that have unsettled global markets ahead of a possible meeting later this month in South Korea between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
On Friday, U.S. stocks, oil, and cryptocurrency markets dipped sharply after Trump warned of retaliatory measures against China’s new export curbs on rare earths and other key materials. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the market reaction was “a normal response to uncertainty,” noting that the new measures are not set to take effect until November 1.
China’s Ministry of Commerce earlier on Sunday urged Washington to stop “threatening” higher tariffs and to pursue further dialogue to address trade differences. The ministry clarified that its export controls do not amount to an outright export ban.
Tensions reignited last week after Beijing unveiled a new round of export restrictions, prompting Trump to announce 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and limits on U.S. software exports beginning November 1. The president, however, left the door open for talks before the deadline.
“We’re gonna have to see what happens,” Trump said. “That’s why I made it November 1.”
Vance, who spoke with Trump over the weekend, said the president still values his relationship with Xi but is prepared to act if Beijing persists with restrictive trade measures. “We have a lot of leverage,” Vance said. “Our hope is that we don’t have to use that leverage.”
The renewed standoff follows a period of relative calm after both nations agreed earlier this year to roll back steep tariffs imposed during a previous trade flare-up. Currently, U.S. imports from China face a combined 30% levy, while Chinese duties on U.S. goods stand at around 10%.
“We’re going to find out a lot in the weeks to come about whether China wants to start a trade war or whether they want to be reasonable,” Vance concluded. “I hope they choose the path of reason.”
Comments are closed.