The Chinese leadership is still trying to tactfully discern what expectations President Trump holds for them. The looming threat of sizable tariffs acts as a reaction to what the president perceives as a lack of robust action on China’s part. When Trump brought up the prospect of tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China back in January, citing the need for these nations to work harder to staunch the influx of illegal items and immigrants into the U.S., officials from Canada and Mexico sprung into action, traveling to the U.S. capital armed with detailed presentations of their enhanced border control measures.
Canada appointed an official tasked specifically with tackling the fentanyl issue and launched new initiatives to fight organized crime. Meanwhile, Mexico sent troops to patrol the border, extradited cartel members to the U.S., and put forth concerted efforts to strengthen its border. Consequently, Trump decided to delay the implementation of tariffs on the U.S.’s neighboring countries for a month, giving them breathing room to continue their efforts.
China, however, did not react in a similar fashion. From Trump’s perspective, the country did not seem to undertake any significant steps to halt the flood of fentanyl entering the U.S. Therefore, in response to these circumstances, on February 4 Trump proceeded to levy a 10 percent tariff on all imports from China.
Even last week, the president stated that from March 4 he would be applying an additional tariff of 10 percent – above and beyond all pre-existing tariffs levvied on Chinese goods. This highlights the swift and determined actions taken by Trump to drastically change the dynamics of trade relations between the U.S. and China.
In contrast, the Chinese have taken a much slower and measured approach in their response. They’re carefully trying to understand Trump and analyze what his actual requirements from China are. Despite this, Trump’s approach has been unyielding and has left no room for trepidation.
Members of Trump’s cabinet, including the Secretary of Treasury and the Secretary of State, initiated communications with their Chinese counterparts. Yet a conversation between President Trump and Xi Jinping, China’s premier, hasn’t come to pass.
Chinese officials are refraining from being the ones to start the dialogue, as it could be perceived as a sign of weakness or desperation. Furthermore, they’re cautious about conceding before fully comprehending the scope of the discourse, as revealed by sources privy to the ongoing discussions.
Irrespective of any misunderstanding or fear of unnecessary contention, China has not stayed silent. Chinese officials, scholars, and others with close ties to the government have been conducting quiet conversations to further understand Trump’s expectations. They’ve also been floating varied aspects of a possible trade agreement between the two nations to gauge the American reaction.
There’s a sense of suspicion among the Chinese during these initial negotiation stages, based on previous interactions. They remain wary of potential pitfalls or hidden agendas and are exercising justifiable caution, an expert advisor on Chinese affairs within the Trump administration suggests.
The overall strategy of the Chinese government seems to be a delicate balance between fulfilling their obligations and not yielding too much ground. Their efforts to understand Trump’s tactics and motivations show a keen inclination towards avoiding a trade war and ensuring mutual gains.
President Trump’s steadfast and resolute stance is aimed at ensuring the interests of the American people are safeguarded and that the trading terms with China are balanced and fair. His actions demonstrate a commitment to enable lasting changes in the international trade landscape.
It’s evident that Trump’s unnerving approach employs unorthodox methods of negotiation on the global stage. Yet it would be too soon and simplistic to pass judgement, as such an unconventional approach might just pave the way for a more equitable global trade structure.
Trump’s rapid and determined responses contrast with China’s more precautionary tactics but underline the president’s commitment to protecting American interests from any perceived threat. By all accounts, it’s a high-stakes game unfolding on the international stage.
Still, the future of U.S.-China trade relations seems to hang in the balance, and Trump’s unwavering stance continues to shake up the norm, sending a clear message to the world that America will no longer accept perceived imbalances in her favor without contentious negotiation.