In recent days, the main agenda of the world economy has been the changes in the U.S. foreign trade policy, particularly the tariff policy. On one hand, Washington is making concessions in the tariffs it imposes on some countries, while on the other hand, it continues to pursue a stricter line against China. This different approach raises new questions in international relations: Is the main goal of the U.S. tariff policy to weaken the Chinese economy?
Donald Trump's goal
US political scientist Peter Tase told APA that the Trump administration has shown a propensity for stimulating the national economy by imposing tariffs and restricting trade with the European Union, the People’s Republic of China, and the rest of the world.
"The ongoing tariffs against China and other trade blocs are further contributing to a more fractured global landscape and reducing America’s reliance on globalization and everything associated with it. Globalization effectively ended with President Donald J. Trump’s return to the White House on January 20, 2025.
There are different dynamics in Washington’s trade partnerships with the European Union and with Beijing. The European Union exports goods worth 249 billion euros to China and imports commodities worth 416 billion euros. In 2024, the EU exported goods worth more than 536 billion euros to Washington and imported more than 464 billion euros in commodities and goods."
The American political analyst also discussed the possibility that the ongoing "tariff war" could backfire on the U.S. He did not rule out the fact that Washington's "closed" stance toward offers coming from the Chinese market could seriously harm the American economy.
“The EU has shown great levels of weakness and lack of leadership when it comes to pursuing candid, fair, and fruitful negotiations with the administration of President Trump. Washington aspires to balance the ongoing trade deficit with the EU and China. China is the principal party affected by the Trump trade Tariffs, and Beijing has ordered its companies not to purchase any Boeing aircraft until further notice. The tariffs’ war is in full swing and Washington will lose grip of recently nascent market opportunities and damage US’ role in world commerce. ”.
The impact of tariff policy on China
Chinese economic expert says that the sharp increase in tariffs imposed by the United States on Chinese imports, some reaching up to 145%, signals a new phase in the competition between the two economic giants.
"This move is not limited to short-term economic effects but also raises deep concerns about the future of global trade. High tariffs could slow China's export growth, particularly in high-tech and industrial products. The reduced competitiveness in the U.S. market may lead to losses for Chinese manufacturers. To soften these impacts, Beijing may resort to domestic stimulus measures and try to seek alternative markets. However, the most important aspect is the long-term consequences of this process. The U.S.-China trade conflict is no longer a simple dispute but has entered a phase of structural economic separation—'decoupling.' The weakening of economic ties between the two countries could lead to the restructuring of supply chains and the formation of economic blocs. These changes increase the risk of fragmentation in the global trade system. If major economic powers seek to minimize interdependence, it could undermine the spirit of international cooperation and create uncertainty, especially for developing countries."
Global concessions and a selective approach toward China
Although the United States has made certain concessions regarding tariffs imposed on a number of countries, particularly the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea, it continues to pursue an uncompromising policy toward China, a leading player in the global economy. On the contrary, the U.S. has raised tariffs on Chinese imports to as high as 145%.
China, with its massive production capacity, cheap labor, and technological advancements, poses serious competition in the global market. The U.S. aims to balance trade relations with China fairly, which is why it imposes high tariffs to counter what it sees as unfair trade practices by Beijing.
Many of the products manufactured in China are sold at low prices in the U.S. market, which puts pressure on local producers. In addition, the United States sees issues related to intellectual property rights and China’s policy of forced technology transfer as problematic. These factors led the U.S. to take strict economic measures against China.
Peter Tase noted that the White House should not reject the offer made by Beijing, which includes recommendations to conduct a dialogue based on equality, respect, and mutual benefit.
“Trump’s trade standoff has triggered global market instability, with equity markets in Europe and Asia experiencing sharp declines as they scramble to cope with recession and rising inflation. Imposing tariffs on Beijing will not protect American industry and could further undermine national security. President Trump is also expected to impose matching tariffs on other trading partners, such as India, Kazakhstan, the EU, and African nations.
The move by California Governor Gavin Newsom to sue the Trump administration in an effort to challenge the president’s authority to impose sweeping tariffs is an extremely risky action that may further strain the dialogue between Washington and Sacramento.
Furthermore, history has shown that increasing trade tariffs against China may not stop the flow of illicit fentanyl substances into the United States.
Global trade is expected to reach abysmal levels this year, as President Donald Trump has embarked on a tariff debacle, fueling deep commercial turmoil that will cause serious damage to global trade and further deteriorate Washington's geo-economic outlook”, he said.
Chinese expert Chang Jie argues that the U.S. trade tariffs and economic pressures can be interpreted as a deliberate strategy to target China's economic independence and growth: "China has begun playing a crucial role in the global economy in recent years, particularly strengthening its position in technology and manufacturing. The U.S. resistance to this growing influence appears to be a strategy aimed at slowing down China's economic development."
China has focused on innovation and high technologies through strategic plans like “Made in China 2025.” Within the framework of these plans, China’s growing technological leadership in global markets is causing concern in the U.S. The trade tariffs imposed by the United States aim, on one hand, to make Chinese manufacturing more expensive and thereby weaken its competitiveness, and on the other hand, to hinder China’s progress in the technological field.
China is implementing various strategic approaches to counter these pressures. Firstly, it is trying to strengthen its domestic market and make its local production more competitive. Secondly, the Chinese government is establishing more trade agreements and economic partnerships in foreign markets to reduce its dependence on U.S. pressure.
China also believes that the U.S. trade policy contradicts global trade rules and is politically motivated. It demands that the U.S. adopt a fairer and more transparent approach in international trade, especially as China believes that a trade war will lead to more negative outcomes.
As a result, the pressure applied by the U.S. represents a significant challenge for China, both economically and politically. In response, China continues to reinforce its measures at both the domestic and international levels to achieve its strategic goals.”
Expectations and outcomes
An American political scientist noted that with the sharp increase in tariffs against China, the United States is likely to experience a significant deterioration in bilateral relations, and GDP growth could decline by 3 percentage points over the next two years.
"On April 2, 2025, President Trump announced reciprocal tariffs affecting 57 trading partners, including a 34 percent tariff imposed on the People’s Republic of China. In this context, Washington failed to engage in proactive dialogue with Beijing—an omission that is expected to negatively impact regional security in Southeast Asia and hinder efforts to enhance military coordination between China and the Pentagon. Further escalation by the Trump administration against trading partners is expected to lead to a steep decline in bilateral trade, both in absolute and relative terms, throughout 2025."
Against this backdrop, it is clear that the US tariff policy is not only an economic tool, but also part of a geopolitical strategy. Taking a tough stance on trade with China is an attempt by Washington to preserve its leadership in the global economic order and to contain Beijing's rise. This leads us to a new stage - a period in which economic competition has turned into political confrontation.
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