The White House announced a steep increase in tariffs on Chinese imports, bringing the total to 145%. This escalation comes after President Donald Trump’s latest executive order, which raised duties from 84% to 125%, combined with an earlier 20% levy tied to fentanyl-related concerns.
Despite the president’s claim that he remains open to reaching a bilateral agreement, his stance has drawn criticism for what many view as an inconsistent approach to negotiations.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett signaled the administration’s tough posture is far from over, stating in a CNBC interview that “conversations on China have not begun yet.” Critics argue that Trump’s shifting positions leave little clarity for businesses caught in the crossfire.
Amid these developments, Charles Gasparino of Fox Business revealed that “Trump administration is moving toward a possible delisting of Chinese public [company] shares on US exchanges,” noting that the issue is likely to be taken up by incoming SEC leadership. This action could potentially affect major Chinese firms like Alibaba and Baidu, which have drawn scrutiny over “golden shares” that allegedly grant the Chinese government outsized control.
Days after, suddenly deciding that he’d prefer a “nice” deal with China after unleashing a barrage of tariffs is classic Trump: deliver the shock, then promise the resolution later—if it suits him. For weeks, the White House hammered Beijing with tariff hikes and then, the president casually suggested, “If we can’t make a deal, then we go back to where we were.”
Not long after throwing down the gauntlet, the president insisted, “I would love to get a deal with China” and that he thinks “we will end up working out something good for both countries.”
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Critics have openly questioned whether there’s a coherent plan in play—or just a series of fits and starts whenever the mood strikes. One day, it’s “toughest stance in years,” and the next, it’s “everything’s going great, we’ll have a beautiful deal soon.” Is there a playbook that lines these positions up nicely, or is it more like a game of darts in the dark?
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