The relationship has strained further due to tariffs.
A growing list of countries is issuing advisories for travel in the U.S., with the latest to sound the alarm being the People’s Republic of China. The trade war between China and the U.S. has escalated, prompting the country to urge its citizens to assess potential risks when traveling or studying in the U.S. during these strained times.
The culture and tourism ministry in China warned its citizens, saying, “Recently, due to the deterioration of China-U.S. economic and trade relations and the domestic security situation in the United States, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism reminds Chinese tourists to fully assess the risks of traveling to the United States and be cautious.”
Additionally, the education ministry has sent a similar caution to students considering American states for their education. It urges its citizens to carefully assess potential safety risks and increase awareness of the challenges they might face in some states. The ministry refers to the recent Higher Education Act passed in Ohio, which restricts collaboration with Chinese institutions.
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More than 250,000 students are enrolled in American schools, while around 1.6 million visited the country in 2024. These advisories may discourage people from visiting or studying in the U.S., escalating the trade war and causing damage to both economies. Experts believe this is a sign that Beijing wants to exert pressure on the education and tourism sectors in the U.S.
The U.S. is already facing a downturn in tourism, as visitors from Canada and Europe have both declined. Multiple nations have issued advisories for U.S. travel, cautioning citizens about stricter border controls and long detentions, along with a lack of transgender rights following the recent two biological sex stance taken by the U.S. president. Long detentions of tourists have also contributed to confusion and fear about crossing the American border. Canada has gone as far as to alert its citizens that border officials may check their phones and laptops and deny entry if someone refuses to share their passwords.
Related: These U.S. States Could Be Hardest Hit by Canada’s Travel Boycott
U.S. vs. China
This is the latest development in the ongoing tensions between the two countries, which have had a tumultuous relationship in the past. Although U.S. President Donald Trump paused all tariffs for 90 days for most countries, China is not exempt, and the trade war between them is far from over. Currently, Chinese imports face a tariff of 145% (up from 54% and 104%), while China has imposed retaliatory tariffs of 84% on American imports.
Related: A Running List of Countries Issuing U.S. Travel Advisories
Interestingly, the U.S. downgraded the travel advisory to China last November from Level 3: Reconsider Travel to Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. The current advisory warns citizens of “arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans.”
Earlier, Americans were warned that the Chinese government may ban their exit or detain them wrongfully without a trial. The advisory explained that exit bans are used to “compel individuals to participate in PRC government investigations; pressure family members of the restricted individual to return to the PRC from abroad; resolve civil disputes in favor of PRC citizens; and gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments.” It also cautioned that China does not recognize dual citizenship, so Chinese-Americans will be treated as Chinese citizens.
