Over the past week, anti-Trump protests have been held in cities across the U.S., voicing grievances about his decision to impose tariffs on numerous countries globally. The organizers of the "Hands Off" protests intended to stage rallies at 1,200 different locations, spanning all 50 states. In major cities such as Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C., hundreds of thousands of individuals gathered to express their dissatisfaction.
"Tariffs are causing disruptions in capital markets and people's lives—this is less a policy victory and more an explosion of public frustration toward the Trump administration," said Alan Zhang, Research Associate and Manager of the Trade 'n Technology Program at ICAS. "Now, with all these tariff policies potentially driving up grocery prices, they affect ordinary people's lives and bring more uncertainty and anxiety to the American public."
Who has failed the angry Americans?
While Trump's 2024 campaign hinged on revitalizing the economy, his recent policies have fallen short of delivering prosperity. Critics argue that the administration's trade tactics, rather than fixing economic woes, have amplified market turbulence and eroded public trust.
"For the American people, the biggest issue in the past presidential election, which got President Trump elected in the first place, was the state of the economy," said Alan. "The Trump team promised they would fix the economy and bring more wealth and prosperity to the American people. But judging by the policies they have carried out over the past few months, that has not necessarily been true."
What's next for US-China trade relations?
After the Trump administration rolled out a "reciprocal tariffs" policy, imposing a baseline 10% tariff on all trading partners and levying additional tariffs ranging from 20% to 49% on more than 60 nations with significant U.S. trade deficits, China retaliated against Trump in the trade war with 34% tariffs on U.S. imports, showing no sign of backing down. The president added another 50% after China did not back off on its promise to impose 34% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods by noon Tuesday, resulting in an astounding 104% tariff across all Chinese imports, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on April 8.
"I think the upcoming trend in U.S.-China economic relations looks rather grim," said Alan. "China's stance indicates that it has no reason to back down from Trump's bullying."
He points out that eight years ago, when Trump negotiated trade deals with China, China literally gave him almost everything he wanted, from purchasing commitments to some market adjustments, but that wasn't enough for the Trump administration. Today, as the world's largest trading power, China has shifted its stance, signaling it will no longer tolerate "bullying" tactics.
"China's retaliation has been more calculated and curative in terms of its impact, and China has been very cautious about the consequences it will create," he said. "China's retaliation is calculated and curative—it sends a clear message that Beijing did not start this trade war, nor does it seek to escalate it," he emphasized.
"China, currently the number one powerhouse in the global trade system, can stay committed to the global free trade order," he added. "This also sends a very strong signal to the rest of the world, especially to countries like the European Union, which are still preparing for their retaliation."
How will EU react to the U.S.?
Despite shared concerns over U.S. tariffs, the EU faces a tightrope walk. "It's unrealistic to expect Europe to abandon its trade relationship with the U.S.," the commentary observes. Yet, Brussels has shown little progress in building "resilience" against geopolitical shocks, such as a potential second Trump term.
Questions linger: Can the EU forge a more balanced partnership with China? Will Beijing enhance its role as a stabilizing force in global trade? For now, the bloc's hesitation risks leaving it vulnerable to escalating U.S.-China friction.
The U.S.-China standoff has forced nations to reassess their economic dependencies. While China advocates for multilateralism, its calibrated retaliation reveals a focus on minimizing collateral damage. Meanwhile, the EU's inertia in diversifying trade ties highlights systemic challenges. "The world needs more efforts to de-risk, not decouple," Alan explained, urging cooperation to safeguard a rules-based order. As Trump-era policies test global stability, the stakes for ordinary citizens, and the future of globalization, grow ever higher.
Reporter | Guo Zedong
Text & Script | Guo Zedong
Cover photo | Cai Junru
Video | Deng Yingheng
Editor | Yuan Zixaing, James, Shen He
