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U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told Fox and other networks bluntly that the Chinese are “slow-rolling” their obligations and that behavior is “completely unacceptable,” a clear red line from the Trump administration after the Geneva talks. Greer’s warning comes as Washington accuses Beijing of failing to resume exports of critical rare earth minerals and of dragging its feet on issuing the licenses promised in that deal.
The Geneva framework was supposed to be a short truce: a 90-day de-escalation that would pull back the sky-high reciprocal tariffs and get vital inputs moving again, while keeping targeted measures — like a fentanyl-related tariff — in place. Instead, U.S. officials say China has not followed through on removing non-tariff countermeasures and restoring flows of magnets and minerals that American factories need, forcing the administration to consider its next move.
This is not abstract grandstanding — the choke on rare earths is already threatening American manufacturing. Industry leaders have warned of shortages in rare-earth magnets used across autos and defense systems, and that kind of supply shock is precisely why the administration demanded compliance and put tariffs on the table in the first place.
If Beijing thinks slow-rolling is a tactic that will be tolerated, it is wrong; the White House has signaled that snapbacks and other measures are on the table, and aides have said the U.S. can and will act to enforce the deal. Officials including Stephen Miller have been explicit that non-compliance opens the door to further U.S. action, and President Trump himself blasted China publicly for violating the agreement.
Don’t lose sight of why tariffs came in the first place: the fentanyl crisis and national-security gaps in the supply chain. Greer made clear that the fentanyl-related duties remain live even as negotiators pause other measures, underscoring that the administration will not trade away the safety of American families to papered-over promises from Beijing.
Conservatives should applaud toughness but insist on getting tangible results — not a diplomatic fig leaf. The answer is a two-track strategy: hold the line with tariffs and export controls to force Beijing’s hand while unleashing a real domestic push to mine, process, and refine the minerals America needs with our allies, not our geopolitical competitors.
Hardworking Americans deserve a government that defends their jobs, their factories, and their children from poison sold across our border. If Washington stands firm and follows through, we can end dependence on Beijing for critical materials, secure our supply chains, and make sure China learns that agreements with the United States are kept or they pay a steep price.
