[By Guancha Observer Network, Ruan Jiaqi]

Insisting on launching the "self-destructive" reciprocal tariffs, "Tariff Tyrant" Trump has thrown a "turtle punch" at over 180 countries and regions, including many American allies. Reluctantly, U.S. media are increasingly hyping up the argument that "China will benefit from it."

Bloomberg reported on April 3rd that the reciprocal tariffs announced in the White House Rose Garden mark the third time China has been hit by tariffs under Trump's administration. This time, long-time American allies such as Japan, Australia, and the UK have also been caught in Trump's tariff strike range.

The report believes that Trump's tariff measures will indeed affect China's economy. However, from another perspective, this creates a rare opportunity for China to comprehensively deepen relations with major U.S. allies in Asia and other regions.

U.S. media lament that "as America's tariffs shock the world, Trump gives China a golden opportunity: winning the whole world."

On April 2nd local time, at the White House, Trump held up a report about trade barriers and delivered a speech. Visual China

On April 2nd local time, Trump's long-promoted "reciprocal tariffs" were finally implemented, imposing a 10% "minimum baseline tariff" on all U.S. trading partners. Additionally, higher tariffs were added on dozens of other countries and regions, including China, based on the 10% rate.

Among U.S. allies, India's "reciprocal tariff" rate will reach 26%, Japan's tariff will be 24%, South Korea's tariff will be 25%, and EU countries' tariffs will rise to 20%. Israel, which abruptly canceled all its tariffs on the U.S., was slapped with a 17% tariff. Australia and the UK were also subject to a 10% tariff increase.

Facing this tariff measure, which is labeled "reciprocal" but is actually "bullying," there is widespread outcry among allies: Japan expressed "disappointment," South Korea "urgently convened meetings," the EU threatened "retaliation," Australia criticized it as "not friendly behavior," and only the UK felt "lucky" to get off relatively lightly.

With allies rising up in opposition, "this is very different from what happened in recent years." Bloomberg mentioned that the Democratic administration of former President Biden went to great lengths to rally against China, coaxing and persuading many Asian and European partners to join the "isolation of China." "But Trump now has little reason to cooperate with these allies to isolate China, whether due to his friendly stance toward Russia or his latest tariff measures."

This move triggered severe fluctuations in global stock markets, and even U.S. stocks experienced their worst performance since the pandemic. In addition, U.S. media expressed concern that Trump's unprecedented tariff measures might isolate the U.S. from the global economic system it helped establish after World War II. As China gradually replaces the U.S. as the largest trading partner for many countries, these tariffs are accelerating their reliance on China's market.

On April 3rd local time, before the EU-Central Asia Summit, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, held a press conference. Visual China

"Trump's proclaimed 'Liberation Day' will encourage all other countries to trade with each other rather than with the U.S., thus isolating the U.S. from the rest of the world," said Frank Tsai, part-time professor at the Shanghai campus of EM Lyon Business School. "China now has a golden opportunity to defeat the U.S. in its own game."

Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center, also told Bloomberg, "Trump's tariffs indeed send a message that America is no longer the benevolent hegemon it once was, and this will inevitably lead to a shift in the global order."

"China is not singled out as the only country facing more tariffs from the U.S.," he added. "They will deepen their relationships with U.S. allies and promote their own vision of an alternative world order."

On April 3rd, the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China successively strongly opposed the U.S. reciprocal tariffs and emphasized that they would resolutely take countermeasures to protect their own rights and interests, urging the U.S. to correct its mistaken practices and negotiate trade disputes with all countries, including China, on equal, respectful, and mutually beneficial terms.

Bloomberg pointed out that China has adopted a more strategic and cautious approach in response to Trump's multiple rounds of tariff measures compared to its reaction during the first trade war in 2018. Earlier reports from "Politico" also indicated that during Trump's first three months in office, while Canada, Mexico, and the EU showed anxiety and anger, China responded very calmly to the U.S. tariff threats.

The article stated that Trump's "reciprocal tariffs" could provoke a stronger reaction from China. Recently, China has been in contact with Russia, Japan, and South Korea to coordinate responses to the tariff measures.

Wang Huiyao, chairman of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) headquartered in Beijing, believed that ultimately, Trump's tariffs will come at the expense of U.S. interests, uniting trade partners together.

"Trump's move will promote more trade among 80% of the world's population or economies, isolating the U.S.," he said. "In the long run, they will push for all kinds of cooperation among countries."

Lü Xiang, an expert on American studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, also told the Observer Network that America's widespread imposition of tariffs can be seen as a self-imposed exclusion from global free trade. "Trump may think that he can achieve America's 'self-reliance' through tariffs, building an internal circulation system where everything from shoes and socks to missiles is made domestically."

However, this idea is clearly unrealistic. Lü Xiang said that America's current all-encompassing tariff war will certainly face retaliation from various countries. These retaliatory measures may not be proportional, but they will still be intense, meaning that existing U.S. exports will suffer strong shocks, affecting GDP and economic growth.

Most importantly, "I believe that non-U.S. countries will unite. Everyone will sit down together to consider how to minimize the impact and how to digest dependence on the U.S. Next, non-U.S. countries will naturally form a community, strengthening their trade ties, and there will be explosive growth in trade among non-U.S. countries this year."

This article is an exclusive piece by the Observer Network. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Original link: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7489363740144583222/

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