During his first term in 2017, United States President Donald Trump implemented a hawkish economic policy towards China, which has only escalated in his second term. This has led to a de facto trade embargo between the two largest economies in the world. Tariffs on Chinese goods have increased significantly, and China has retaliated with tariffs of its own on US goods, along with other measures.
Trump’s belief that China has taken advantage of trade relations with the US has shaped his aggressive trade war tactics. He aims to balance trade, create jobs for Americans, and increase US firms’ access to the Chinese market. His administration has imposed tariffs on Chinese goods and has continued to do so, even expanding on them.
While Trump’s anti-China stance was expected, the extent and unpredictability of his tariffs have surprised many observers. His goal is to negotiate with China to lower tariffs, as the current rates are seen as unsustainable. However, Chinese officials have not yet engaged in meaningful negotiations, which could potentially lead to further economic decoupling between the two countries.
In addition to the US-China trade war, Trump has also targeted other countries with tariffs. His overall strategy seems to be part of a broader economic agenda that aims to reshape global trade relationships and ensure fairness in trade deals. Ultimately, Trump’s goal is to rewrite the existing consensus on free trade and market liberalization to align more closely with his vision.
“Itu tidak ditujukan secara khusus kepada China,” kata Thompson kepada Al Jazeera.
“Ini benar-benar tentang persepsi Trump bahwa AS telah dimanfaatkan dan tidak mendapat manfaat dari globalisasi, dan, sejujurnya, mencerminkan persepsi pemilih Amerika tentang hal yang sama.”