China’s Diplomatic Campaign Following Trump’s Tariffs
China’s Diplomatic Campaign Following Trump’s Tariffs When U.S. President Donald Trump rolled out his “Liberation Day” tariffs in April 2025, it sent shockwaves through the global trade system . Countries scrambled to assess the economic fallout, but China quickly recognized an opportunity: if Washington appeared unstable, Beijing could present itself as a steady, reliable leader in international trade. The question is; has it worked? Credit: Wikimedia Commons / FISU Background of the Trump Tariff Escalation Trump’s initial tariff hike targeted almost every country, but China soon found itself singled out. After Beijing’s retaliatory measures, Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 74% , then slapped on another 50% in a tit-for-tat escalation. Negotiations in May brought a temporary truce, but by June, tensions flared again. Trump accused China of breaking the agreement, then oddly followed it with a friendly phone call to Xi Jinping, promising an in-person visi...