Since Donald Trump’s trade policies, particularly his imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods, have restricted the flow of Chinese manufacturing products into the U.S., there’s been a noticeable ripple effect globally. Other countries are indeed contemplating or actively implementing trade policies to prevent Chinese products from being dumped into their markets, driven by concerns over excess Chinese supply seeking new destinations and the competitive pressure this places on domestic industries.
Several nations have observed that Trump’s tariffs—starting with measures in his first term and escalating in his second term with additional duties like the 10% tariff on all Chinese imports effective February 4, 2025, and threats of even higher rates—have redirected Chinese exports elsewhere. With the U.S. market less accessible, China’s manufacturing overcapacity, especially in sectors like steel, aluminum, electric vehicles (EVs), batteries, and solar panels, has intensified pressure on global markets. This has prompted responses from both advanced economies and emerging markets.
The European Union, for instance, has taken steps to counter this influx. In recent years, the EU has launched anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into Chinese products, particularly targeting EVs, batteries, and solar panels. By 2025, the EU has imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, reflecting worries about Beijing’s state-driven overproduction flooding European markets. This follows a pattern seen since 2023, where countries like Brazil, Canada, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey have also introduced tariffs or investigations into Chinese high-value goods, aiming to protect their domestic industries from cheap imports that could undermine local manufacturing.
Southeast Asian nations, such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, face a dual challenge. While they’ve benefited from trade diversion as U.S. imports shifted away from China (with exports to the U.S. surpassing those to China in 2024), they’re now grappling with an influx of low-cost Chinese goods. Thailand, for example, saw over 2,000 factory closures in 2024 due to cheap Chinese steel and other products, prompting calls for stronger trade defenses. These countries are weighing anti-dumping measures and quality standards to balance economic ties with China against the need to shield their own producers.
Emerging markets are cautious, though. Many rely on Chinese intermediate goods for their own manufacturing and fear retaliation from Beijing, which limits their ability to impose aggressive tariffs. Instead, they’re exploring subtler tools like export controls or incentives to attract Chinese investment in local production, hoping to mitigate dumping while maintaining economic ties.
Globally, there’s a growing consensus—evident in forums like the G7—that China’s non-market practices, such as heavy subsidies, distort trade. Trump’s policies have amplified this concern, pushing countries to act unilaterally or seek coordinated responses. However, aligning these efforts is tricky due to differing economic priorities: advanced economies want to protect high-tech sectors, while developing nations aim to onshore manufacturing without alienating China.
So, yes, since Trump’s trade policies tightened the U.S. market, other countries are actively contemplating and implementing measures—tariffs, investigations, and regulations—to prevent Chinese manufacturing products from flooding their economies. The specifics vary, but the trend is clear: his actions have accelerated a global pushback against China’s export surge.
All commie polities are parasitical. Sooner or later the host rebels or dies. Democrats were openly pushing for death of the free market/capitalist gov’mts. Now, that is receiving pushback.
I tended to view Trump’s tariffs as warring with China without using military means.
Trump should have just left it at 25% for China and raked in billions instead of bringing this to a head.
It’s a lot easier to get a fair trade deal when everyone is acting in their own country’s best interest, instead of their own best personal interest.
The Trump tarifff has China boxed in.
It will only get worse for Chinese manufacturing.
I just read that British Steel company has been owned by China since 2020 and that the Labor government is considering nationalization to prevent the company from shutting down two blast furnaces that are no longer 'financially sustainable'.
BTTT
We did just fine in the 1950s and 1960s, not trading with China at all. I’m OK with a return to that.
Not so many years ago, China seemed to be on a constructive path. Its necessary next step was to mature as a stable, reliable trading partner that lived by the rules and upheld its WTO obligations. China has long since reached the point at which it is too big and too prosperous to be playing stupid little mercantilist games. China is much too big for the rest of the world to tolerate continued cheating.
Ten years ago, there was a robust internal debate going on within Chinese leadership circles between those committed to China maturing and stepping into a healthy relationship with its trading partners versus the party hardliners who opposed anything that would lessen party control. Unfortunately, the hardliners won, at least for now.
Everyone outside of China — and I do mean everyone — had been hoping that China would grow up and take the constructive path. And everyone was hoping that China would find a peaceful way out of its political box. China now has a huge highly educated business, scientific, technocratic class, many of whom have traveled outside of China, and some of whom were educated outside of China. They know perfectly well that they are ruled by a closed, corrupt, ruthless party kleptocracy. They also know the consequences of open dissent. This is the real problem that China faces. The Chinese government has a cheaters’ and looters’ mentality towards the rest of the world because the gangster regime has to keep buying off its own people.
China needs regime change. Every one of those Chinese billionaires who is parking money in U.S. real estate or various European investments knows it. That’s bugout money stashed by people who hope they can get out in time if things collapse. There are hundreds of millions more in China who don’t have the cash or sophistication to do the same, but who also understand the problem. A LOT of people in China look at the regime in Beijing, then look at Japan and South Korea, and realize that the wrong side won the Chinese Civil War.
I am going to go out on a limb and predict that this is going to cost Xi his position! 🤔 China cannot win this conflict without heavy U.S. 'Swamp' agitation against Trump... AND Xi is trying that.
Interesting dilemma for U.S. pharmaceuticals. 🚽
The great irony is that the Marxist Mao organized Chinese society for mass production - which ultimately serves the “capitalist” interests of free trade.
China will need to change its political outlook and economic structure.
China needs the world more than the world needs China
Thailand just joined BRICS+ for protection because of the US attempts to overthrow their government. Not unlike Ukraine. Brian Berletić on YT, who is an accurate Ukraine reporter lives there will fill you in. I wish Thailand well.
"1 January 2025
On 28 December 2024, Thailand was informed by Russia, Chair of BRICS for 2024, confirming that Thailand will join BRICS as a Partner Country starting from 1 January 2025."
There are some that believe China is already in a bad place; foreign investment plummeted 80% during Jan/Feb (since PDJT), their population is not 1.4B, it’s also now in rapid decline, high youth unemployment (also disincentivizing having kids), real estate values crashing, businesses closing, etc., this is a bad time for such disruption. Which is maybe the point here.
China manipulates currency, steals I.P., exploits workers, etc., it should not be rewarded. The whole “make China prosperous so it’ll become more friendly” idea has not worked out.
It wouldn’t surprise me if they act militarily, Taiwan is very vulnerable. Vietnam is experiencing a growth boom, they’re next door too.
The CCP is evil - maybe PDJT sees the writing on the wall and knows now is the time, they can’t last long, they’re weaker than they try to present.
IMHO....and this is also targeting the EU. It’s also an evil entity, much of what their economy offers we can live without (cars, wine, cheese, ...) - we have alternatives here. Where are they going to get their energy? Russia? They’re not producing enough themselves. So PDJT puts a $350B energy deal on the table, on top of zero-for-zero tariffs. Most likely they’ll take it.
China is a paper dragon!
The miracle of the Chinese economy is due to two things, low (even slave) labor and trillions of dollars from western sources.
Cut off the “loans” to China and cut off their ability to sell in the US and China will face economic ruin.
The American economy can survive without China, the question is can China survive without American consumers?
It would be a totally reasonable strategy to box in China if he hadn’t declared a trade war with every other country in the world at the same time. What if, instead of a 20% Tariff on the EU, Trump demanded EU Tariff China at the same rate as the US? You can’t fight everyone at once.
They have such short term memories about his success record. No one knows the end result, and it's a big political gamble to reset the entire world order. Might have been better had he waited until after tax day and begun in May, but it's done. Trump has maximum leverage and he's using it. Political fallout be damned.