United States President Donald Trump has announced the conclusion of a new trade agreement between the U.S. and China, stating that the deal now awaits final confirmation through a personal agreement between himself and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump made the announcement on Wednesday via his official account on the social media platform X, where he outlined the key provisions of the pact and highlighted what he described as a strong and “excellent” bilateral relationship.
“Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval with President Xi and me,” Trump wrote. “Full magnets, and any necessary rare earths, will be supplied, up front, by China.”
The agreement includes a Chinese commitment to provide the United States with full shipments of magnets and essential rare earth materials, resources critical to sectors including electronics, defense, and renewable energy. These materials, largely produced in China, have long been central to trade negotiations between both nations due to their strategic importance.
In return, the United States has agreed to maintain access for Chinese students to American colleges and universities. Trump appeared supportive of this exchange, posting: “Including Chinese students using our colleges and universities (which has always been good with me!).”
On trade tariffs, Trump revealed the terms would heavily favor the U.S. under the new deal. “We are getting a total of 55 percent tariffs, China is getting 10 percent. Relationship is excellent!” he wrote.
The new deal marks a departure from the previous Trump administration stance, which had included proposals to restrict visas for Chinese students at elite American universities as part of broader immigration and national security measures. Some of those efforts faced criticism for targeting international students and potentially damaging U.S. academic institutions financially and culturally.
Currently, international students—especially those from China—play a vital role in the U.S. education system. During the 2023–2024 academic year, nearly 280,000 Chinese students were enrolled in American institutions. However, India recently surpassed China as the top source of foreign students in the U.S.
As the trade pact awaits final endorsement from President Xi, it is poised to reshape aspects of U.S.-China economic and educational engagement, amid ongoing global competition and strategic rivalry.
