German media: Trump's tariff war against China has instead exposed America's weaknesses and vulnerabilities in full view.
"Neue Zürcher Zeitung" commented that President Trump's tariff war against China has not only failed to force Beijing into submission, but has instead laid bare America's weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
"Trump's Mediocre Diplomacy"
The "Neue Zürcher Zeitung" editorial wrote that President Trump has attempted to compel geopolitical rivals to yield through America's formidable power, but so far with minimal results. Regarding Trump's tariff war against China, the article stated:
"While employing diplomatic tactics toward Russia, Trump first resorted to economic pressure against China. In the spring of 2025, tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Chinese goods surged to as high as 145%. Geopolitical economist Kyle Chan wrote that Trump also tried to identify other 'pain points' in China, including implementing export controls, port usage fees, visa restrictions, and economic sanctions. China responded with extensive countermeasures."
Ultimately, Trump’s trade war ended up backfiring. Instead of leveraging its hegemonic position to compel China to capitulate politically and economically, Trump’s actions have exposed America’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities to the world.
Afterward, Trump has consistently sought to reach some form of agreement with China. In October 2025, during the South Korea APEC Summit, a U.S.-China summit took place, resulting in a pact for a one-year truce in the trade war: the U.S. would lower tariffs, while China pledged to lift export controls on rare earths.
Observers have referred to this as a "ceasefire agreement." In May this year, Trump visited China, and the two sides reached consensus on fostering "constructive strategic stability."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868737019212812/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.