Just hours before US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to settle the tumult surrounding TikTok, Beijing launched a sudden salvo in its ongoing trade war with Washington.
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It not only marked the latest example of bilateral tensions flaring up during Trump’s second presidential term, analysts say it also reflected a pattern in the tit-for-tat tactics that Beijing has employed, with carefully planned reactive measures aimed at maximum leverage.
But even as waters remain muddied, the general expectation appears to be that bilateral talks will continue.
Analysts attribute the tactical shift to Beijing learning from the past, as well as to China’s rising economic and tech prowess, and with new blood injected into its negotiation team, having named Li Chenggang international trade representative in mid-April.
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Despite quarrels and trade actions, the experts say that direct communications between Trump and President Xi Jinping have prevented bilateral ties from breaking, leaving hope that the world’s two largest economies will eventually reach a trade deal.
