As Trump’s tariff ‘surprise’ slams China’s exporters, is de-escalation even an option?
Signs may be pointing to ‘a much more combative dynamic in US-China tensions moving forward’ – one in which a trade or tariff war hurts both sides
As the first wave of US tariffs proposed by US president-elect Donald Trump gathers momentum, China is holding firm – trying to talk up domestic sentiments while rallying the confidence of foreign investors.
But domestic exporters, who are already feeling the backlash of rising uncertainties on the ground, are keen to know if there will be any tariff exemptions and whether resales through a third country will remain a viable workaround.
In response, Liu Pengyu, spokesman of the Chinese embassy in the US, took to social media, saying: “China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature. No one will win a trade war or a tariff war.”
