Trump Threatens “Retribution” Against China Over Trade Twist

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As trade tensions flare ahead of his expected meeting with Xi Jinping, Trump accuses Beijing of “economic hostility” and warns of new tariffs.

By TRH Foreign Affairs Desk

New Delhi, October 15, 2025 — US President Donald Trump has once again turned up the heat on China, accusing Beijing of “purposefully” halting purchases of American soybeans — a move he called an “economically hostile act.” In a series of social media posts on Tuesday, Trump warned that Washington is considering “retribution,” potentially including a halt to cooking oil imports from China.

“We can easily produce cooking oil ourselves; we don’t need to purchase it from China,” Trump wrote, suggesting that Beijing’s trade decisions were part of a deliberate strategy to undermine US producers.

The remarks came as Washington and Beijing were reportedly preparing for a bilateral meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea later this month, on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit. But Trump’s renewed offensive threatens to derail that diplomatic window.

Trade War Enters a New Phase

China — once the top importer of American soybeans, buying over half of US output — has dramatically reduced its purchases since Trump’s tariff war began. The world’s second-largest economy has instead turned to Brazil and Argentina, upending global agricultural trade flows.

For US soybean farmers already grappling with weak prices and shrinking export markets, Trump’s combative tone is unwelcome news. Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association, said in a statement that “trade wars are harmful to everyone,” warning that farmers are “facing an ever-growing financial crisis.”

Rare Earths and Retaliation

The latest escalation follows Beijing’s decision last week to impose new curbs on exports of rare earths — critical materials for the production of high-tech products from smartphones to defence equipment. Trump quickly countered with a threat to double tariffs on Chinese imports and hinted that he might cancel his planned meeting with Xi altogether.

Yet despite his fiery tone, Trump later softened his rhetoric, saying the US-China relationship will be “fine,” a sign that both sides may still seek to de-escalate before the summit.

A Fragile Balancing Act

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, speaking to CNBC, said that whether the White House follows through with the new tariff threat “depends on what China does with its trade restrictions.” Greer added that past negotiations had found “a path forward,” but warned that Washington “can’t have a situation where China wants veto power over the world’s high-tech supply chains.”

The Trump administration, he said, continues to seek a working relationship with Beijing — even as its rhetoric grows harsher. “It makes sense for the two leaders to talk when they can,” Greer noted, hinting that the planned meeting remains on the calendar.

The Political Undercurrent

For Trump, who returned to the White House for a second term amid promises to protect American industries, the renewed trade clash with China could serve as both a political rallying point and an economic risk. His administration’s hardline stance resonates with a domestic audience wary of China’s rise — but it also jeopardizes the livelihoods of US farmers and exporters caught in the crossfire.

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