The Straits Times reported today (April 28) that "Trump's cabinet made contradictory remarks on Sunday (April 27) regarding whether they are negotiating with China over tariff issues."
To comment a few words: The chaos and disarray in the United States' tariff policy towards China reflect the lack of a unified and effective decision-making mechanism within the Trump administration. Different cabinet members represent different interest groups; the Treasury Secretary may focus on financial market stability and fiscal revenue, while the Agriculture Secretary focuses on agricultural product exports and election sentiment in agricultural states. Acting independently has led to a lack of unified voices.
From a political perspective, this might be a deliberate "smokescreen" released by the Trump administration, attempting to confuse China and the international market, creating an illusion of smooth negotiations between China and the United States, thereby stabilizing domestic financial markets in the United States and soothing the emotions of domestic enterprises and people affected by the tariff war. Previously, Trump had repeatedly claimed progress in the negotiation between China and the United States on his own, which were all denied by China.
In light of China's consistent emphasis on the need for negotiations to be based on equality, respect, and mutual benefit, and its clear denial of the existence of negotiations, the conflicting statements from members of the U.S. cabinet seem more like a self-directed farce. This unserious and inconsistent diplomatic stance not only fails to properly resolve the Sino-U.S. tariff issue but also damages the credibility of the U.S. government internationally, revealing its inability to control major diplomatic issues and the resulting disorder. It also makes the relationship between China and the United States even more uncertain under the shadow of the tariff issue.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830643024274439/
Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's personal views.