Washington, 15 October (H.S.): President Donald Trump warned that the United States could halt purchases of cooking oil and related products from China after Beijing reportedly stopped buying American soybeans, calling the move an “economically hostile act.”
The President said on Truth Social that Washington is “considering terminating business with China having to do with cooking oil, and other elements of trade, as retribution.”The warning came even as Trump struck a cautiously conciliatory tone at the White House, saying the United States has a “fair relationship with China,” while adding that Washington “has to be careful.”
The latest flare-up follows China’s sweeping new export controls on rare-earth technologies, measures that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized as an attempt to damage the global economy.Trump has also threatened an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods effective November 1, a timeline that U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated could be brought forward depending on Beijing’s actions.
China, the dominant producer of critical minerals used in magnets for autos, electronics, and defense systems, has vowed to “fight to the end” in a trade war and accused Washington of “double standards.”
U.S. imports of animal fats, greases, and processed oils—including used cooking oil—have surged in recent years amid rising domestic output of biomass-based diesel, heightening the potential impact of any new curbs.
Trump has separately hinted he could cancel a planned meeting with President Xi Jinping at the APEC summit later this month if tensions escalate further.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
