John Block, House Representative of New Mexico, said that the China trade agreement reflects the success of Trump-era tariffs and signals a stronger U.S. approach to international trade. The statement was made on X.
"Great news," said Block, New Mexico State Representative for 51st District (R). "I look forward to seeing how the talks, stemming from President Trump's very wise, genius, and successful tariffs, benefit our country. We must stop being taken for a ride by countries like China. The best is yet to come."
In May 2025, the United States and China signed a significant trade agreement in Geneva aimed at de-escalating years of tariff escalation and supply chain disruption. According to The Australian, the deal includes a 90-day reduction in tariffs, with U.S. rates on Chinese goods falling from 145% to 30%, while China reduced tariffs on U.S. imports to 10%. The agreement also addressed rare earth exports and imposed new rules on low-value e-commerce imports. Mediated by Swiss officials, the pact is seen as a mutual retreat from aggressive economic confrontation.
According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports had risen to 145% by early 2025, while China responded with rates up to 125%. The New York Post reported that these measures resulted in a record $16 billion in U.S. customs duties in April 2025. Despite high levies, Business Insider noted that Chinese exports to the U.S. dropped 21% year-over-year that month, reflecting the steep trade contraction leading up to the Geneva deal.
Since 2018, U.S.-China trade relations have been marked by escalating tariffs and shifting supply chains. A study published in 2023 on arXiv by researchers Wei Luo et al. found that American companies initially redirected imports to Southeast Asia to offset tariffs. However, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted these adjustments, leading to a temporary spike in imports from China. The study highlights the volatility and adaptation pressures within global trade networks.
According to the New Mexico Legislature’s official site, John Block has represented House District 51 since January 2023 and serves on committees related to economic development and commerce. He is a Republican who supports trade policies favoring U.S. manufacturing and domestic businesses. Block has consistently aligned with economic nationalism in legislative discussions.
