USA Had Tariff Tango with China

The U.S.-China trade war under President Trump was a dramatic, high-stakes geopolitical game that often played out more like a reality show than a carefully planned economic strategy. Here’s how the sequence unfolded — and unraveled:

1. Trump Ups Tariffs to 34%, Then 84%
In an attempt to reduce America’s trade deficit and bring jobs back home, President Trump imposed initial tariffs on Chinese goods, starting at 34% and then dramatically increasing to 84%. The justification? “Unfair trade practices” and alleged intellectual property theft by China. The message was loud and clear: America First — and Made in China, last.

2. China Reciprocates
Beijing, unimpressed and undeterred, responded in kind with matching tariffs on U.S. goods. American farmers, tech companies, and car manufacturers suddenly found themselves caught in the crossfire. Soybeans, whiskey, and Harley-Davidsons all took a hit.

3. Trump Ups Tariffs to 145%
Rather than back down, Trump doubled down (and then some). Tariffs skyrocketed to a jaw-dropping 145%, threatening to drag the entire global supply chain into chaos. Markets wobbled. Economists issued warnings. But Trump remained firm, tweeting that “Trade wars are good, and easy to win.”

4. China Reciprocates Again
China matched the escalation step-for-step — a powerful signal that they weren’t going to fold. Chinese media portrayed the U.S. as the aggressor, while the government began subsidizing domestic industries to blunt the impact.

5. Trump Admin Begs Xi to Call
Behind the scenes, however, things weren’t so tough. Reports emerged of U.S. officials practically begging President Xi Jinping to restart talks or at least return a phone call. The silence from Beijing was louder than any tariff announcement.

6. China Does Nothing
In a display of strategic patience (or icy cold indifference), China simply waited. No counteroffer. No press conference. Just the stillness of a government that knew time — and leverage — was on its side.

7. Trump Announces He’s Ready to “Make a Deal”
As U.S. businesses began to feel the squeeze and stock markets trembled, Trump abruptly changed tone. Suddenly, it was all about flexibility. “I’m ready to make a deal,” he told reporters, portraying it as a calculated pivot. In reality, it looked more like a concession.

8. China Still Does Nothing
No handshakes. No breakthroughs. Just more waiting. Beijing’s strategy: let Trump stew in his own political and economic pressure cooker.

9. Trump Rolls Back Tariffs
Eventually, Trump eased up, rolling back many of the tariffs he had once touted as the ultimate economic weapon. It was a quiet end to a loud fight — with no formal victory parade.

Conclusion:

This trade war began with bold threats and promises, but ended with muted retreat. If it was a chess game, China played the long game while Trump shouted “Checkmate!” halfway through the opening. The real casualties? American farmers, global markets, and the notion that trade wars are ever "easy to win."

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