讀後心得

China expressed "strong countermeasures" against the new tariff measures imposed by the United States. Trump mentioned that China's trade barriers are too high when imposing tariffs on trade partners and plans to levy a preferential tariff of 34%. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce immediately condemned this action as bullying and stated that it would safeguard its own rights and interests. Experts point out that the new tariff policy will affect China and its supply chains in Southeast Asia. At the same time, Trump canceled the tax exemption for small packages from China, which will increase competitive pressure on Chinese goods. This series of measures will escalate the trade tensions between China and the United States and may prompt China to seek cooperation with other Asian countries to respond.

China has stated that it will take "resolute countermeasures" against the United States' tariff actions. When U.S. President Trump announced tariffs on nearly all trading partners on Wednesday, he also made strong remarks about China. "I have great respect for China's President Xi Jinping and have a lot of respect for China, but they are really taking advantage of us," Trump said during a speech that lasted over an hour.

Trump presented a chart listing the countries and regions he claimed were imposing trade barriers against U.S. goods. He emphasized, "If you look at this chart, China is in the first line, at 67%. This is the tariff they impose on the U.S., including currency manipulation and other trade barrier factors." He also added, "We will impose a 34% preferential counter-tariff on them; in other words, they charge us, and we charge them, but we charge less. Who can complain about that?"

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce quickly responded, condemning the U.S. actions as "typical unilateral bullying behavior" and pledged to "take resolute countermeasures to safeguard its rights and interests." Chinese state media accused Trump of simplifying trade into a tit-for-tat game. Experts believe Beijing has ample reason to feel dissatisfied, as the latest announcement compounds the existing 20% tariff on Chinese goods, while the high tariff measures on other Southeast Asian countries are also seen as an act of "closing the door." During Trump's first term, China had sought to evade tariffs by adjusting its supply chains.

Since Trump returned to the White House, he has imposed a round of tariffs on Chinese goods, raising the rate to 20% since January of this year. Less than a week later, these tariff rates will increase to 54%, although lower rates will apply to goods like automobiles, steel, and aluminum. Additionally, China has also become a target of Trump's other trade offensives. He recently signed an executive order to terminate the tax exemption for small packages from China, a move that threatens the competitiveness of Chinese e-commerce.

Experts say this presents a troubling situation for Beijing. According to analyses, Trump's high tariffs aimed at countries like Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia are equivalent to a "full-scale attack on Beijing's extended supply chains." This could deal a heavy blow to those impoverished nations that rely on Chinese investments in supply chain infrastructure. The American Chamber of Commerce found in a survey that most U.S. manufacturers anticipate layoffs if tariffs increase.

One of the "difficult choices" facing China is how to respond to the new tariffs that are set to take effect. Experts predict that China may take a "strong" response in terms of tariffs and other measures against U.S. actions. If China shifts its exports to other countries, this could lead to deindustrialization in those nations. This indicates that China must ultimately unleash the potential of domestic demand and household consumption.

These tariffs may also prompt China to attempt to form alliances with other affected Asian countries to counter U.S. protectionism. Recently, China, South Korea, and Japan held economic talks and agreed to accelerate negotiations for a free trade agreement.

Trump's tariff policy has severely impacted China, but this time Beijing appears to be prepared to cope, fearing that they may ultimately regain the upper hand at the negotiating table. It is expected that a series of topic negotiations between China and the U.S. will take place, but this process will not happen quickly.