Beijing appears to be changing tactics by speaking directly to the British public as tensions mount in the US-China trade conflict rather than engaging only with the Trump administration. China has just recently launched a social media campaign to refute the widely held notion that President Donald Trump’s taxes have a major impact on global markets.
A video featuring a man portrayed as a US importer was posted by a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, Mao Ning, on X ( previously Twitter ). Trump supporters in particular are targeted by the video, which warns that US consumers will eventually be burdened by tariffs on Chinese imports. ” European countries pay the levies,” you ask? No, US companies do not spend and then go expenses on to you. Tariffs don’t restore production. They are only a duty on Americans, Mao wrote in the message.
The current business dispute’s renewed hostilities coincided with the message. Trump made the announcement on Wednesday that China’s tariffs would rise to 145 %, prompting Beijing to retaliate by imposing its own tariffs on American exports by Friday. Experts warn that bilateral trade, which is valued at over$ 650 billion in 2024, has been pushed toward a possible breakdown as a result of the tit-for-tat steps.
While Trump asserts that foreign exporters are responsible for paying the taxes, saying to writers on Air Force One,” We can set the tariff, and they can choose not to deal with us or they can choose to pay it,” economists and industry experts argue that the manufacturers are responsible for the costs and no foreign providers. Higher costs are typically used to pass on these costs to consumers.
Trump has also opened the door to conversations. Yet as Trump praised Chinese President Xi Jinping, suggesting a deal may be possible, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Friday,” the leader made it very clear: When the United States is punched, he may blow up harder.”
In a separate action, the Trump administration made exemptions for some technology from the punishing taxes, allowing relief for big tech companies like Apple and Dell. A 20 product categories, including computers, semiconductors, memory chips, and displays, will be exempt from April 5 according to a notice issued by the US Customs and Border Protection agency.
Trump’s 10 % “baseline” tariffs on imports from most nations, excluding China, effectively lowering costs for expensive tech products from Taiwan and India.
