Trump clarifies on US-China trade deal after White House trade advisor says 'it's over'

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump took to Twitter and clarified that trade deal with China is 'fully intact'. Trump said that he hopes China will continue to 'live up to terms' of agreement. His tweet comes right after reports came in that White House trade adviser Peter Navarro in an interview to Fox news has said that  trade deal with China is “over."

 US has been speaking openly against China for its mismanment of Coronavirus outbreak and has slammed Beijing for its Hong Kong security law, action against mirities in Xinjiang and its 'unilateral' action on border with India. 

READ | Trump bans H-1B visas; US corporate sector says it will hit invation, foreign investment

In fact, amid rising tensions between Asian neighbours - India and China, US president has gone on to offer mediation between two on recent LAC standoff. "It's a very tough situation. We are talking to India, we're talking to China. y have got a big problem re. y have come to blows and we'll see what happens. We are trying to help m out," Trump had told media.

However, US Secretary of state has heavily criticised China on Galwan clashes. On June 20, referring to Galwan clashes, he had said, " PLA has escalated border tensions – we see it today in India, world’s most popular – populous democracy.  And we watch as it militarizes South China Sea and illegally claims more territory re, threatening vital sea lanes, a promise y broke again".

Ar bone of contention that has arisen between US and China is  “Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020”  signed by Trump last week. It seeks to punish China on human rights violations of ethnic mirity groups in Xinjiang region. It is aimed at holding accountable perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses such as systematic use of indoctrination camps, forced labour, and intrusive surveillance to eradicate ethnic identity and religious beliefs of Uighurs and or mirities in China.

READ | US: Team Biden rejects Trump camp's proposal for 4th debate, calls it a 'distraction'

Trade war & preliminary deal 

In January this year, US and China had signed a deal to end ir months-long trade war. According to deal, China pledged to boost US imports by $200billion above 2017 levels and strengn intellectual property rules. In exchange, US agreed to halve some of new tariffs it had imposed on Chinese products. While Washington termed it as 'transformative' for US ecomy, Beijing had hoped for a 'win-win' situation. 

READ | LAC military-level talks conclude; India demands China's return to pre-April status quo

US- China trade war

trade war began between two ecomies when in 2018 Trump administration imposed tariffs on more than $360bn (£268bn) of Chinese goods, accusing it of 'unfair trade practices.' China retaliated with tariffs on more than $110bn of US products. Washington delivered four rounds of tariffs from 2018-2019.  most recent was a 15% duty on Chinese imports, from meat to musical instruments. Beijing hit back with tariffs ranging from 5% to 25% on US goods.

READ | China admits casualties, says commanding officer was killed in Galwan clash: Sources