China did not back down. Instead, Beijing introduced tougher, more precise and diversified countermeasures. The fundamental reason is that after nearly eight years of trade conflict, China has grown more confident, strategic and resilient.
After Trump launched the trade war in 2018, Chinese exports to the US have faced tariffs of around 19 per cent. By now, the Chinese public is accustomed to trade disputes and an extra 10 per cent tariff hardly comes as a shock.
Looking at the long-term impact, the objectives Trump set out to achieve in 2018 have largely gone unmet.
According to the US Bureau of Industry and Security, US-China trade was worth around US$659.8 billion in 2018, and the US trade deficit was US$419.2 billion. Based on Office of the US Trade Representative figures, bilateral trade was estimated at US$582.4 billion in 2024, with Washington still recording a trade deficit in goods with Beijing, at US$295.4 billion.
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