Trade tensions: the United States maintains its prices on China

In an economic context where each commercial tension weighs on global markets, Washington has chosen firmness. This June 11, Howard Lungick, secretary of trade, dismissed any drop in customs tariffs imposed on China. An unambiguous announcement, despite an agreement announced as “Concluded” by the two capitals. This tariff status quo strengthens uncertainty on global supply chains and sends a clear signal: the time is not for appeasement, even against the backdrop of diplomatic dialogue.

Frozen prices, tensions maintained: the United States does not move

Asked about CNBC, the American secretary for trade, Howard Lunick, said unambiguously that customs duties on Chinese products would not be modified.

“We can say it without hesitation,” he declared When asked if the prices would remain at the same level.

This announcement came shortly after President Donald Trump said that the trade agreement between the two countries was ” do “although always “Subject to final validation” by the two heads of state. Thus, the current tariff levels, a total of 55 %, will not move at this stage.

Contrary to what certain initial interpretations could suggest, no price increase or decrease was made in this agreement. The 55 % figure put forward per Trump actually corresponds to an addition of taxes already in force:

• 30 % general customs duties, widely applied to Chinese imports;
• 25 % targeted rights on specific products;
• There is no new element in this tariff structure, but only a confirmation of the status quo;
• Maintaining this tariff pressure is part of an assumed diplomatic strategy, despite an agreement.

Thus, the American message is not an opening, but a consolidation: London's discussions lead to a customs truce, without real pricing concession of the United States.

Rare earths and critical components: the industrial underside of the agreement

Beyond the strictly customs aspect, negotiations carried out in London gave rise to a significant commitment on the part of Beijing: the lifting of restrictions on Chinese exports of rare earths and other strategic industrial components.

As Lodnick summed up in his interview, “They will approve all requests for magnets from American companies immediately”. This concession aims to put an end to a policy “Dilatory strategy” Chinese, accused of having deliberately slowed the supply to the United States.

However, the terms of this commitment remain vague. The export licenses granted by Beijing are only valid for six months, renewable or not.

Such a limitation introduces an instability factor in supply chains already under pressure, especially in the sectors of semiconductors, green technologies, and indirectly, blockchain and crypto infrastructures.

For the markets, this situation creates a paradox: on the one hand, the apparent normalization of bilateral relations. On the other, a persistent uncertainty about the sustainability of Chinese commitments, particularly in matters of critical raw materials.

If the impact on cryptos is not immediate, it is not nonexistent, because mining equipment, servers batteries or ASIC components still depend on this overall chain.

Any future restriction or political reversal could affect infrastructure costs in the web 3 ecosystem, or even accelerate relocation or strategic diversification movements, especially towards Southeast Asia.