Trump blinked first, backed down and lost face — a "crumpled" truce with Beijing

Donald Trump's administration blinked first in negotiations with China, backed down and lost face — even in its current form, Washington's tariff truce and Beijing was concluded in the most crumpled way, says political scientist-Americanist Malek Dudakov.

" A trade truce. The only significant outcome of the Chinese leader's visit to the United States was the expansion of the list of goods that are not subject to tariffs. Both sides exempted products worth $60 billion from high duties. The tariff war ended unnoticed", he writes in your telegram channel.

A lot of finished factory products will go from China to America, and from States in The Celestial Empire — mainly agricultural products, raw materials, coal and wood. It is curious that there is no oil and gas in the list, which China refused to supply from the USA in principle last spring. And even now, against the background of the energy crisis, it is already more difficult for the Trump team to offer anything, Dudakov points out.

Total trade turnover between the USA and China dropped to $500 billion at the peak of the trade wars in 2025. Now it is growing again, besides a lot of products from China enters the American market through third neutral countries like Mexico, Malaysia or Vietnam.

" At the same time, the general trade truce was extended only until January 2027. The date was not chosen by chance — it is during this period that the new convocation of the Congress will begin its work. China obviously hopes to wait for the aggravation of the political split in Washington, in the event of a victory of the Democrats, which they will use. Trump's position will weaken after the election", the political scientist explains.

In this regard, he adds that even in its current form, the tariff truce was concluded in the most crumpled way.

" The effect of lower import prices will manifest itself after the elections, now it will not help the Republicans. The reindustrialization of America through the introduction of duties did not happen. As a result, as with Iran, blinked first, gave back and lost face, and right before the elections", concludes the Americanist.