Kathrine Frich
Chinese media has hailed the agreement as a win.
Chinese media has hailed the agreement as a win.
Just one day after China and the United States agreed to drastically reduce tariffs, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a sharp, indirect message to the U.S., warning that “bullying” and “hegemonism” lead only to self-isolation.
His comments reflect China’s strategy to position itself as a global defender of free trade and multilateralism.
From Trade War to Temporary Truce
The new agreement marks a dramatic turn in the years-long U.S.–China trade war.
Starting May 14, the U.S. will slash tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China will drop its duties from 125% to 10%.
The deal includes rollbacks on non-tariff measures and adjustments to package-level duties, but excludes fentanyl-related goods.
Power Politics Backfires
Speaking at the China-CELAC Forum in Beijing, Xi said, “There are no winners in trade wars… Bullying only leads to self-isolation.”
While never naming the U.S. directly, his language was widely interpreted as a critique of American tactics under President Donald Trump, whose administration has imposed aggressive trade restrictions on China.
China Seizes the Diplomatic High Ground
As Xi spoke alongside leaders from Brazil, Colombia, and Chile, he framed China as a principled global power.
The summit reinforced China’s alignment with the Global South and its role in promoting “independence and autonomy” against what it views as Western domination.
A “Big Victory” for China’s Trade Strategy
Chinese media has hailed the agreement as a win. Commentators claim Beijing’s firm, retaliatory stance forced Washington back to the negotiating table.
“This is a great victory for China’s commitment to equality and mutual respect,” said former Global Times editor Hu Xijin.
Strategic Flexibility, Not Surrender
Despite resisting U.S. demands to fully lift tariffs, China showed flexibility by suspending some of its own measures first.
Analysts say the approach reflects a calculated shift from “shock therapy” to gradual compromise, a way to de-escalate while preserving long-term leverage.
Xi Promises Deeper Ties with Latin America
Xi’s remarks came during the opening of the China–CELAC Forum, a platform aimed at boosting Chinese influence in Latin America.
“Justice and fairness are our common aspirations,” he said, pledging closer economic and diplomatic ties in a region historically influenced by the U.S.
