Trump did not specify how China violated the agreement. A U.S. official said China appeared to be moving slowly on promises to issue export licenses for rare-earth minerals.

But a U.S. official told Reuters that it appears China was moving slowly on promises to issue export licenses for rare earths minerals. The deal called for China to lift trade countermeasures that restrict its exports of the critical metals needed for U.S. semiconductor, electronics and defense production.

President Donald Trump said twice Friday that China had breached the terms of the bilateral trade agreement but offered scant details.