Senator Daines Heads to China for Talks Amid Rising Trade Tensions
U.S. Senator Steve Daines, a big Trump supporter, met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Beijing on Saturday, exchanging some friendly words in front of the press even as trade tensions between the two countries heat up. The two discussed issues like tariffs and fentanyl smuggling, which have been major sticking points between the U.S. and China.
Daines is the first member of Congress to visit Beijing since Trump started his second term in January. He’s also set to meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday, where he’ll get a rundown of China’s policies, according to He.
This isn’t Daines’ first time in China—far from it. Having worked for Procter & Gamble in Guangzhou back in the day, he’s visited the country six times now. He even met Li in 2018 when Li was the Communist Party boss of Shanghai. Now, with U.S.-China relations on shaky ground, Daines says he’s there for some serious discussions.
“I’ve always believed in keeping the conversation going, and that’s been the goal of all my trips to China over the years,” he said.
Later that day, the U.S. Embassy in China posted on X, saying Daines pushed China to stop fentanyl precursors from being shipped to the U.S.—something Trump has been pressing for. He also hopes this visit will pave the way for more high-level meetings between the two countries.
For his part, Vice Premier He Lifeng made it clear that China isn’t a fan of economic disputes being turned into political weapons. But, he said, China is open to honest discussions with the U.S., as long as they’re built on “mutual respect and fairness.” He even suggested that the two nations could be partners and friends, rather than rivals.
Before heading to China, Daines’ office made it clear that he’s closely coordinating with the White House and is pushing Trump’s “America First” approach. He played a similar role during Trump’s first term when tariffs were a hot topic, and he’s back at it again.
As Montana’s senator, Daines has a big focus on trade. Earlier this week, he posted on X about pressing China on fentanyl production and fighting for fair trade deals for Montana farmers and ranchers.
His visit comes as U.S.-China relations are getting more tense. Trump recently slapped 20% tariffs on Chinese goods, and China hit back with a 15% tariff on American farm products. On top of that, the U.S. keeps accusing China of not doing enough to stop the flow of fentanyl materials an issue that’s causing major problems in the U.S.
China hasn’t taken these accusations lightly. Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently fired back, accusing the U.S. of treating China unfairly. Beijing even released a report defending its efforts to crack down on illegal fentanyl trade, saying it’s been cooperating with the U.S. and holding regular discussions with American drug enforcement officials.
Despite the back-and-forth, China insists it’s open to working together but won’t accept “unreasonable pressure” from the U.S.
Daines arrived in Beijing on Thursday after a stop in Vietnam, where he met with leaders before heading to China for his latest round of diplomatic talks.
Senator Daines Visits Beijing: Talks with China’s Vice Premier Amid Rising Tariff Disputes
