Bild der Wirtschaft: Trump wants to weaken China, but the opposite happens. Regarding the Sino-US tariff war, more and more German media believe that Trump will not win. The Bild der Wirtschaft believes: Trump wants to weaken China, but the result is the opposite. Trump's aggressive tariff policy forces Europeans to rethink the positioning of the European continent: how close should they maintain with Washington and Beijing now? At the Shanghai Auto Show, one thing is clear: the automobile superpower China sees American tariffs as a strategic advantage because they mainly weaken competitors. From an official perspective, no one in China welcomes the U.S. imposing up to 145% tariffs on imports from China. However, we heard quiet satisfaction time and again in background conversations at the auto show. The Bild reports: Trump seems to be on the defensive in the tariff showdown with China! First, he imposed a 145% import tariff on Beijing at the start of the trade war. But now the situation has reversed. Due to expected price increases and shortages, the U.S. president suddenly adopted a more moderate tone. He recently stated that he hopes to appear "very friendly." Most importantly, the Republican Party hinted that tariffs might be reduced. Sources inside the White House also gave specific figures: tariffs could be reduced by 50% to 65%. The reason for this withdrawal is: The New York Times believes that these punitive measures are "unsustainable." Severe warnings from major wholesale chains like Walmart, Target, Home Depot, and Lowe's obviously shocked Trump: senior executives personally warned him that supermarket shelves might be empty "within just a few weeks." This would be a serious political setback for Trump - because the trade war was initiated by himself. China supplies $438 billion worth of goods to the United States annually. For many products (toys, furniture, games, lamps, etc.), "Made in China" has become an indispensable part of Americans' daily shopping habits. Now, Trump faces reality, claiming that negotiations with Beijing are underway. They promised there will be "substantial results." The reduction of punitive tariffs may be a gesture of goodwill. But how does China respond to the olive branch? Firmly! The Chinese Embassy in the United States released a statement from the Foreign Ministry: "There have been no consultations or negotiations between China and the U.S. on tariffs." "The U.S. should stop creating chaos." China has multiple weapons to counter the U.S.: almost all rare earths come from China, and banning exports could put pressure on the U.S. economy. Political scientist Jonathan Crystal emphasized that the U.S. is unlikely to win many of the trade wars it initiates. "Meanwhile, China can expand its trade relations with countries that are unnecessarily affected by America's indiscriminate tariffs." Der Spiegel also stated: Trump keeps raising tariffs to compete for world power status with China. But he cannot win the trade war; instead, he risks dragging the global economy into a downturn.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830594100284419/

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