(The Epoch Times)—President Donald Trump has extended a 90-day tariff pause on China.
With only hours until the temporary agreement’s Aug. 12 deadline, Trump signed an executive order to allow the United States and China to continue trade negotiations.
Since a two-day meeting in Stockholm between the world’s two largest economies in late July, both sides have floated the idea of extending the deal to allow for further talks.
Earlier in the day, Trump did not say whether he would approve a 90-day extension to the U.S.–China tariff pause, potentially leaving the door open for tariffs to return to near-embargo levels.
“We’ll see what happens,” the president told reporters at an Aug. 11 press briefing.
“We’ve been dealing very nicely with China. As you have probably heard, they have tremendous tariffs that they’re paying to the United States of America.”
The United States and China engaged in near-embargo tariffs earlier this year. The United States imposed 145 percent levies on Chinese goods entering the country, while Beijing countered with 125 percent retaliatory tariffs. Since then, the current U.S. administration has lowered its rate to 30 percent, while China has reduced it to 10 percent.
An extension into the fall could allow for a meeting between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Trump has also denied pursuing a summit with Xi, writing on Truth Social that he is “not seeking anything.”
“I may go to China, but it would only be at the invitation of President Xi, which has been extended. Otherwise, no interest!” the U.S. president said in a July 28 post.
It comes shortly after he confirmed that Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Nvidia would be charged a 15 percent fee on revenues for artificial intelligence (AI) chip sales to China. Estimates suggest the U.S. government could collect approximately $2.2 billion from the sales.
The announcement did little to lift U.S. stocks as the leading benchmark indexes remained in the red. The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 0.4 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index and broader S&P 500 dipped 0.1 percent.
All About Soybeans
The next trade deal, meanwhile, could be contingent on soybeans, similar to what occurred during the Phase One trade negotiations during Trump’s first term.
Writing in an Aug. 10 Truth Social post, the president said he hopes Beijing will expand its purchases of U.S. soybeans.
“China is worried about its shortage of soybeans. Our great farmers produce the most robust soybeans,” Trump said. “I hope China will quickly quadruple its soybean orders. This is also a way of substantially reducing China’s trade deficit with the USA. Rapid service will be provided.”
Beijing, as part of a key provision in the 2020 trade deal, committed to buying $32 billion worth of U.S. agricultural products over two years, including immense volumes of soybeans. While the pact did not specify the exact amount of soybeans, U.S. officials say China’s purchases fell short of broader targets.
While it is the largest customer of U.S. soybeans—China bought $12.64 billion from the United States last year—the country’s purchases have declined since peaking in 2022, according to the Department of Agriculture. The European Union and Mexico are the second- and third-largest importers, with totals of $2.45 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively.
China is the world’s largest soybean importer, accounting for almost two-thirds of global imports, data from the International Food Policy Research Institute show.
Prices for soybeans surged during the Aug. 11 trading session following the president’s social media post. November soybean futures rallied 2.3 percent, or $0.2275, to $10.1025 per bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade.
What White House Has Said
U.S. officials have pursued aggressive trade negotiations aimed at rebalancing the global economic dynamic. Trump and his team are attempting to position the United States to reclaim its role as a leading manufacturer, while encouraging China to shift from a dominant exporter to a more consumption-driven economy.
The U.S. goods trade deficit with China was $295.5 billion last year, up 5.7 percent from 2023, according to the Trade Representative’s Office.
New Bureau of Economic Analysis numbers indicate that the U.S. trade deficit with China decreased to $9.4 billion in June, down from $13.94 billion in May.
Last month, a U.S. delegation led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with their Chinese counterparts in Stockholm for two days. At a post-meeting press conference, Bessent and Greer suggested a 90-day extension was on the table, but it would be up to the president to decide.
Still, Bessent said he was optimistic that Washington and Beijing were inching closer to a trade agreement.
“I believe that we have the makings of a deal,” Bessent said in an interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on July 31.
“There’s still a few technical details to be worked out on the Chinese side … I’m confident that it will be done, but it’s not 100 percent done,” Bessent said.
However, according to the president, additional tariffs could be implemented on China.
“It may happen … I can’t tell you yet,” Trump told reporters at an Aug. 6 press briefing. “We did it with India. We’re doing it probably with a couple of others. One of them could be China.”
The White House recently imposed an extra 25 percent levy on Indian imports entering the United States, bringing the total tariff rate to 50 percent.
Trump alluded to India’s hefty purchases of Russian oil as a reason for the punitive tariffs that he says are “fueling the war machine” in Ukraine.
As of Aug. 7, the current overall average effective tariff rate is 18.6 percent, the highest since 1933, according to The Yale Budget Lab.
Recent Daily Treasury Statement figures reveal that the U.S. government has generated more than $154 billion in tariff income fiscal year to date.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.