'Don't Worry About China,' Says Trump as Beijing Responds to 100% Tariff Threats

'Don't Worry About China,' Says Trump as Beijing Responds to 100% Tariff Threats
Above: The container terminal of Qingdao port in China's eastern Shandong province on Oct. 11, 2025. Image copyright: AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

China’s defiance masks deep vulnerability. With one-fifth of its workforce tied to exports, and growth chained to foreign demand, Xi faces rising joblessness and fading leverage. His threats ring hollow as U.S. tariffs bite and allies drift away, revealing an economy too brittle to withstand a prolonged cold war.

Pro-China narrative

Washington’s tariff bluster now rings hollow. Having weaponized trade to bully allies and rivals alike, the U.S. finds its coercion exposed as self-defeating — isolating it from partners, eroding trust, and shrinking its sway in global commerce. “America First” has curdled into “America Alone.”

Metaculus Prediction



The Controversies



Articles on this story



© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.16.0

© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.16.0