Skip to content
Subscriber Only
Opinion
Michael Schuman

Is Trump Playing Into Xi's Hands?

Tough U.S. measures allow the Chinese leader to be the economic nationalist he wants to be.
Taken for a ride?

Taken for a ride?

Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg

U.S. President Donald Trump has finally carried out his threats on trade with China, announcing on Thursday the start of a process that will lead to sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports and restrictions on Chinese investments. Trump hopes to compel a recalcitrant China to end a range of unfair business practices and open its market wider to U.S. companies, thus reducing the large U.S. trade deficit.

QuickTake Free Trade and Its Foes