Amid the tariff war, is the US unsafe for the Chinese?

China has released a fresh “risk alert” for its citizens planning to visit the United States.

The statement from the culture and tourism ministry advised citizens to “fully assess the risks of travelling to the US and be cautious.”

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The country’s Ministry of Education has also shared an advisory directed at students who are thinking about pursuing studies in the US.

In this report, we explore the reasons behind China’s decision to issue the travel advisory for its citizens, why it matters, and how it could impact the United States.

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Why China issued travel warning for citizens visiting US

The Chinese government has issued a travel advisory for the United States due to rising tensions between the two countries caused by sweeping global tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump.

In its risk alert, the ministry pointed to a “deterioration of economic and trade relations” as well as concerns over the “security situation” in the United States as key reasons behind the decision.

“In light of worsening China–US trade relations and security concerns in America, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism advises Chinese citizens to carefully assess the risks of travelling to the United States and proceed with caution,” the ministry said in a notice on Wednesday.

This development came after a retaliatory measure by Beijing in response to fresh US tariffs, with China announcing an 84% duty on all American imports. The move unsettled financial markets and further intensified the trade conflict between the two economic giants.

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Shortly after China’s announcement, Trump responded by increasing tariffs on Chinese goods to 125 per cent, escalating the ongoing trade dispute that poses risks to global commerce.

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At the same time, China’s Ministry of Education issued an alert to students, urging them to evaluate potential security issues related to studying in “certain US states.” This followed the passage of a new bill in Ohio.

The bill, passed last month by the Ohio House of Representatives, contains elements viewed as unfavourable to China, including measures that seek to limit foreign influence, particularly in academic settings.

It also seeks to reduce support for diversity and inclusion initiatives and includes provisions restricting partnerships between American and Chinese universities.

China’s updated travel advisory comes as several European nations, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Germany, France and the UK, have also revised guidance for citizens travelling to the US, amid concerns over the Trump administration’s action against immigration and trans rights.

US-China trade escalation

Last Friday, China imposed a 34% tariff on all US imports, alongside export limits on rare earth minerals and a series of other retaliatory measures in response to Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs.

In response to Beijing’s countermeasures, Trump issued a warning and demanded that China withdraw the new tariffs or face an additional 50 per cent tariff.

On Wednesday, China responded to Trump’s earlier 104 per cent tariffs by announcing a fresh round of levies - an 84 per cent duty on all goods imported from the US.

Later, Trump increased tariffs on Chinese products to 125 per cent the same day.

Amid the turbulence in global financial markets, Trump has temporarily rolled back most of his tariffs on countries other than China for a period of 90 days.

China, however, was not included in this decision.

Blaming a lack of mutual respect, Trump said on social media that China had been treated differently because, unlike other nations, it had chosen retaliation over dialogue. He said that he paused the “reciprocal tariffs” for many countries as they had engaged in negotiations rather than striking back.

The back-and-forth tariff increases are another chapter in the ongoing US-China trade conflict - a battle that risks pushing up prices for American consumers and delaying China’s efforts to revive its slowing economy.

The Chinese government’s latest steps indicate its determination to resist pressure from Washington, even amid massive economic uncertainties.

Speaking to reporters later, Trump said he had scaled back on several global tariffs, excluding China, because the market turmoil had left people “yippy” and “afraid.”

He added that while he was optimistic about eventual agreements, “nothing’s over yet.”

Is China banning Hollywood films?

Amid the ongoing standoff between the two nations, reports have surfaced indicating that China may be considering a **potential ban on Hollywood films** .

Two influential Chinese bloggers recently posted identical messages detailing the possible steps authorities could adopt in response to Donald Trump’s latest tariff escalations.

Among the possible actions are fresh tariffs on American agricultural exports and a ban on Hollywood film imports.

Bloomberg reported that options under discussion include “reducing or banning the import of US films” as part of broader retaliatory steps.

Even without a full ban, analysts expect a notable slowdown in the entry and promotion of American movies in the Chinese market.

Should Beijing move ahead with such a decision, Hollywood could face losses amounting to hundreds of millions in revenue. It may also limit international viewers’ access to some of the year’s most awaited releases.

With inputs from agencies