Pride and Prejudice: China and US Stalemate Threatens Global Trade

The trade and tariff stand-off between China and the US is reaching a boiling point, with global commerce at risk of being strangled by the ongoing stalemate. The Trump White House is putting the onus on China to initiate talks, while Beijing is demanding “respect” to kickstart negotiations. As both sides dig in their heels, the world is left wondering who will blink first.

With the US increasing tariffs on Chinese imports to a staggering 245 percent, Beijing is dismissing the move as a joke, stating that even at 145 percent, the exports make no economic sense. The two economic powerhouses are now locked in a battle of wills, with each side trying to outlast the other.

Meanwhile, countries like India, Japan, and Vietnam are caught in the crossfire, as the US turns its attention to choking off transshipment of products that China is trying to export through third countries. Reports of iPhones being transshipped through India to avoid high tariffs have raised questions about the impact of the trade war on global supply chains.

President Trump’s recent comments about helping Apple fly out iPhone consignments have raised eyebrows, with some sellers already starting to tag a “Trump tariff” to the final price of Chinese-made products. The uncertainty surrounding the trade war is starting to have real-world consequences, with prices beginning to rise and businesses feeling the pinch.

As the US President looks to strike trade deals with other countries, public opinion remains divided. While some believe Trump has successfully isolated China, others argue that he has painted himself into a corner. With no end in sight to the trade war, the global economy hangs in the balance as the two economic giants continue to spar.