US pauses tech curbs on China before Trump's prospective state visit

According to media reports, the US government has moved to stop tech bans on China to pave the way for President Donald Trump's prospective visit to the country this April.

Citing sources, Reuters reported that Washington is to put on hold several measures targeting China's key technologies.

These include prohibiting China Telecom's operations in the US, restricting China's sale of its devices to US data centres, sales ban of routers made by TP-Link on American soil, limiting online operations of China Unicom and China Mobile, as well as prohibiting the sale of Chinese electric vans and buses.

While some pointed to the possibility that the suspension will make American data centres and other critical technologies more subject to so-called Chinese threats, the US commerce department indicated authorities would continue to leverage their power to tackle national security risks posed by foreign technologies.

In response, the Chinese embassy in Washington made clear that it opposes the weaponising of trade and tech issues.

At the same time, the embassy says China eagerly welcomes collaboration with the United States to make 2026 a year of significance for both sides to explore mutual respect, peaceful co-existence and win-win cooperation.

Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that preparations were underway for another round of economic and trade talks with Chinese vice premier He Lifeng ahead of Trump's China visit.