By Chen Chaofan Frank
When U.S. President Donald Trump steps back onto the world stage in 2025, few would have predicted the scale of his latest move. Unlike his first term in the pre-pandemic era, this administration faces far fewer constraints with a Republican controlled Congress, a pro-conservative Supreme Court, and a cabinet composed of firm loyalists, allowing him to pursue policies that many once considered unthinkable.
His latest "Liberation Day tariffs" policy, as an example, has become more than a tool to "rebalance" U.S. trade relations with the world; it has also become an impactful symbol that challenges the post-World War II global system of free trade and globalization, a system largely constructed and led by the U.S.
The "Liberation Day tariffs" policy is both simple and widely influential: it imposes a minimum duty of 10% on nearly all imports into the U.S., combined with harsher rates for countries that Trump deems to be engaging in unfair trade practices with the U.S. Notably, the so-called "reciprocal" tariffs on Chinese products have surged to 145%, calculated using a formula "invented" by his administration. Although a 90-day pause has been granted to most countries - excluding China - the damage to the global economic system is already obvious. It marks a disappointing departure of the United States from the multilateral, rules-based order that has underpinned global trade and prosperity for decades.
Supporters of the tariffs argue that they are necessary to force U.S. trading partners back to the negotiating table, a so-called "art of negotiation" that Trump's followers tout as evidence of his strong leadership. Trump even humiliated countries that were willing to make deals with the United States, referring to them as "ass-kissers." Yet this rationale is deeply flawed, and his reactions are both disrespectful and undiplomatic. Unilateral tariffs, especially at unreasonable rates, tend to provoke retaliatory measures, leading to a tit-for-tat cycle. Prompt counter-tariffs have escalated tensions to unpleasant levels, transforming any potential dialogue into a cycle of brinkmanship. The idea that coercion leads to balanced outcomes ignores the basic principles of reciprocity, compromise, and mutually beneficial negotiations.
Domestically, the "Liberation Day tariffs" policy is not without substantial costs. Although it is enacted in the name of protection, the reality is painful: U.S. consumers and importers bear the costs through higher prices and artificially disrupted supply chains. The price of a panda doll has soared to US$80, and many Chinese products in supermarkets are being sold out before the tariffs are implemented. Ordinary Americans will face higher living costs, and the U.S. economy will endure greater inflationary pressure. Furthermore, the turbulent performance of the stock market has weakened global investors' confidence, while the surge in Treasury bonds' long-term interest rates has represented the rare distrust of the U.S. Confidence in the United States and its sovereign credibility is fading. Trump's aggressive stance may temporarily satisfy the domestic political narrative, but it comes at the expense of American economic stability and long-term prosperity.
Globally, these unilateral tariffs severely undermine the U.S. role, which should be a stabilizer rather than the current position, and erode the mutual trust built over decades with key political allies and business partners. By disrespecting multilateral frameworks and disregarding WTO principles, the Trump administration signals to the world that American self-interest is more important than upholding international rules. Traditional partners in Europe and crucial allies in Asia, such as Japan and South Korea, are reconsidering their dependence on the U.S. and are forced to reevaluate their strategic alignments and trade policies amid growing uncertainty.
From a geopolitical perspective, the tariff policy escalates China-U.S. relations and the broader great power competition, intensifying the situation in what appears to be a calculated strategic move. However, this approach comes at a significant cost to America's interests, exemplifying the Chinese saying "殺敵一千, 自傷八百" - inflicting considerable self-harm while attacking the adversary. China demonstrates significant strategic and material strengths based on the lessons from Trump's first term. A divided global landscape is emerging, with the United States leading one camp under "America First" and China leading another, advocating free trade and globalization. This division leaves many nations struggling to maintain balance and exacerbates global instability. For some Western scholars and observers, it may be disappointing to witness the U.S. decline. Still, they are also heartened to see that China is assuming its responsibility to commit to a system that has benefited not only China but the entire world.
All in all, Trump's tariff strategy is an unwise approach that undermines the principles of globalization, diplomacy, free trade, and international cooperation. Instead of doubling down on harmful tariff wars, U.S. policymakers must urgently shift toward multilateral dialogue and collaborative trade agreements, as China is currently pursuing. Such an approach would safeguard global interests, restore trust worldwide, and reinforce the global economic order that has underpinned decades of shared prosperity and peace. The future depends on fostering balanced policies rooted in mutual benefit rather than unilateral dominance. At this critical moment in the long period of peace we have enjoyed over recent decades, we do not need wars - whether economic, diplomatic, or military - but rather the pursuit of peace and prosperity. Many more issues require global efforts to tackle, from poverty elimination to climate change that may threaten all of humanity. It is time for the U.S. to wake up and do the right thing.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
The author is an MPhil candidate in International Relations at the School of Governance and Policy Science at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
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