A one-off punch from the United States threatens to crush the already vulnerable trade war between Washington and Beijing, with Chinese technology companies and students having shock blades through the Trump administration on Wednesday evening.
Seen from China, things had looked up after the world's world's largest economies corresponded to drastically rolling back steep rates – a reconciliation step in a trade war that had threatened the entire global trading system.
Factories started to knock again. Long deferred shipping containers began to leave Chinese ports intended for the US. Chinese media celebrated the agreement as a national victory, while top officials accepted a cheerful tone in describing cooperation between the two super powers rivals.
But the two Jabs from Washington on Wednesday will have far -reaching consequences in China, who make both families and authorities angry. They also throw in the future of commercial interviews in the US; The temporary ceasefire only lasts 90 days and the clock ticks to reach an agreement in the longer term.
The first hit came in a Financial Times report on Wednesday that the steps of US President Donald Trump had effectively cut some American companies to sell software used to design semiconductors to China.
A Siemens spokesperson later told CNN that the US government informed industry on Friday about new export controls about chip design software to China and Chinese military end users worldwide.
These small chips – which can provide our smartphones, computers, cars and household appliances with electricity – have been in the front of the American tech struggle in recent years. The administration of Biden had blocked China to gain access to the American semiconductors, and earlier this month Washington warned companies about the use of AI chips made by the Chinese tech giant Huawei.
A semiconductor silicon waffle manufactured with various microchip microprocessors, seen at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Henrietta, New York, on April 14, 2025. – Ted Shaffrey/AP/File
The obstacles were furious to Beijing, especially because it poured dozens of billions of dollars in its semiconductor industry, aimed at stimulating production at home and less dependent on the US and other countries.
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the US, refused to comment on the reported Chip software movement, but accused the US “to stretch the concept of national security, to abuse export controls and block and suppress it in a statement to CNN.
But it was the second blow from the White House that landed exactly in the living rooms of Chinese families, with the American State Secretary Marco Rubio said that the US will “withdraw aggressive visa for Chinese students” – especially those in critical areas or with connections with the Chinese Communist Party.
It is difficult to overestimate the impact. There were more than 270,000 Chinese students in the US in 2024, and even more for the Pandemie. While some come from the political and business elites of China, many also come from the middle class families.
The path to the US is attractive, but difficult. Chinese families save for years and spend exorbitant amounts of money to send their children abroad, with students who visit Cram schools or hire teachers to polish their requests. Rubio's announcement puts all of this in danger and students who are now dealing with potential deportation in the middle of their heavily fought training.
Since China is a state of one party that extends deep in almost every aspect of society, it can be difficult or impossible for many students to refute claims that they are connected to the communist party, especially as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that defines term loosely.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that the move “strong resistance” and the US accused of “unjust” visa “under the pretext of ideology and national security.”
Candy, a statistics student at the University of Michigan, who did not want to give her the full name, said she feared that her visa would be canceled before she graduates.
“Ending with just a high school diploma is something I fear,” she said from China, where she visits family. “I pray to endure my non -braduate study safely and smoothly.”
“When I first heard the news, I wanted to curse Trump.”
Although the visa threat comes as a shock, some claim that the targeting of students can eventually be a blessing for China.
The number of Chinese students in the US had declined in recent years, partly due to important shifts in both policy and public perception. Experts say that many Chinese students and families are now worried about safety, racism and discrimination and immigration problems in the US – especially as more competing options for higher education open in other countries, also in China itself.
Trump's performance could see more Chinese scholars, including some of the smartest spirits in their field, return to their home country – or choose to stay in the first place, instead reject an American education for a Chinese degree.
And these researchers – including important leaders in technological areas – can be the key to China who overtake or surpass the US – exactly what a lot of Trump officials try to prevent.
Wednesday brought a bit of good news for China; A federal court blocked Trump to impose most of his worldwide rates, including the current 30% rates for China. But the administration immediately appealed against the decision, leaving the status of those rates – and the trade war – in the air.
Cynthia Chan of CNN has contributed to this report
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