Trump’s Tariff Retreat Sparks Mockery in China as Beijing Doubts US Intentions

As US President Donald Trump signals a possible rollback of tariffs on Chinese imports, what was intended as an olive branch has instead been met with mistrust, skepticism, and outright derision inside China.

Chinese officials have dismissed the move as a strategic bluff, while social media users are mocking Trump’s about-face as a sign of weakness. The shift comes amid increasing domestic pressure on Trump, global recession fears, and warnings from retail giants and Wall Street over the long-term impact of the trade war.

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📉 Trump’s Tone Shift: From Trade Warrior to “Very Nice” Negotiator

In a dramatic shift in rhetoric, Trump recently told reporters:

“The tariffs on Chinese goods will come down substantially… I’m going to be very nice during the negotiations.”

He even pledged to avoid mentioning the origins of COVID-19 — a rare sign of softening. However, Beijing remains unconvinced.

China’s Ministry of Commerce fired back, stating that the entire trade war was initiated by Washington, and it is the US that must make the first move by completely removing the tariffs.

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🚫 China Denies Active Talks Despite Trump’s Claims

While Trump claimed “daily talks” are taking place between the two sides, China’s Foreign Ministry was quick to shoot down the suggestion:

“These are all fake news,” said spokesperson Guo Jiakun, clarifying that no negotiations are currently underway on tariffs.

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🇨🇳 Chinese Experts: Trump Is ‘Flustered,’ Beijing Holds the Upper Hand

According to several Chinese analysts and academics:

• Trump’s latest tone change is a reaction to domestic economic pressure
• Wall Street volatility and inflation fears are forcing him to reconsider his aggressive strategy
• China views his behavior as erratic and untrustworthy

“He says one thing today and something else tomorrow,” said Wang Yiwei of Renmin University. “Beijing doesn’t trust his word.”

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🧠 Beijing’s Strategy: Wait It Out, Don’t Blink First

Rather than rushing to the table, China appears content to endure short-term pain in hopes of securing better terms later. Officials believe Trump’s tactics will eventually collapse under domestic backlash.

“From China’s perspective, this trade war started in the US — but how and when it ends will be decided by China,” said Wu Xinbo, a political expert in Shanghai.

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🗨️ “Trump Chickened Out” Trends Across Chinese Social Media

Trump’s reversal was ridiculed online across China’s social media platforms:

• The hashtag “Trump chickened out” trended with over 150 million views
• Comments described his negotiation shift as “soft,” “manipulative,” and “insincere”
• Many netizens warned against negotiating until all tariffs are fully dropped

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⚠️ Behind the Scenes: Economic Pain Is Mounting in China, Too

Despite public defiance, some Chinese economists privately warn that the prolonged trade standoff is damaging China’s economy:

• Foreign trade pressures are rising
• The risk of mass layoffs and economic slowdown is increasing
• The government’s official GDP growth target of 5% is now under threat

An unnamed policy expert told CNN that censorship is hiding the true economic toll, but internally, many believe the country must eventually seek a resolution.

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📉 Global Impact: Recession Risks Loom as Tariff Pressures Build

Top investment banks have warned:

• US and global economies are at risk of falling into recession
• The existing 145% tariffs on Chinese goods may be reduced to between 50–65%, but that’s still not enough for a breakthrough
• China’s 125% retaliatory tariffs continue to impact US exporters

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💬 Final Word: A War of Optics as Much as Economics

With both nations playing hardball — China posturing for strength, and Trump walking a tightrope between election politics and economic fallout — the tariff war is now more about saving face than substance.

While Beijing holds off, the question remains: Who will blink first?

And when they do, how will it reshape the balance of power between the world’s top two economies?

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