Advertisement
US-China trade war
EconomyGlobal Economy

‘Dare to fight’: how China’s refined art of the deal reflects years of dealing with Trump

Beijing fired back at Washington ahead of Trump’s executive order on TikTok last week, and analysts say it stems from hard-learned lessons

3-MIN READ3-MIN
16
Listen
A call between presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump this month was their second since June, as tensions have persisted between China and the United States. Photo: AFP
Mia NurmamatandSylvia Ma

Just hours before US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to settle the tumult surrounding TikTok, Beijing launched a sudden salvo in its ongoing trade war with Washington.

As Trump’s order brought the fate of the popular short-video app closer to a resolution, a number of American firms were being hit with trade curbs.
Advertisement

It not only marked the latest example of bilateral tensions flaring up during Trump’s second presidential term, analysts say it also reflected a pattern in the tit-for-tat tactics that Beijing has employed, with carefully planned reactive measures aimed at maximum leverage.

But even as waters remain muddied, the general expectation appears to be that bilateral talks will continue.

Analysts attribute the tactical shift to Beijing learning from the past, as well as to China’s rising economic and tech prowess, and with new blood injected into its negotiation team, having named Li Chenggang international trade representative in mid-April.
Despite quarrels and trade actions, the experts say that direct communications between Trump and President Xi Jinping have prevented bilateral ties from breaking, leaving hope that the world’s two largest economies will eventually reach a trade deal.
Advertisement

“Since Trump 2.0, China’s negotiating stance has become more hardline and tit-for-tat,” said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x