Original Publish Date » April 10 , 2025
Last Updated » 2 weeks

Increasingly, we are finding ourselves in a world where China is perceived to be more stable than the US.

There are now open suggestions that countries join together to form a union, similar to the World Trade Organization, but without the US, with clear trade rules and penalties for not following the rules, along with solid mechanisms to enforce those rules.

US and China headed for ‘Monumental’ split

  • “We are approaching a monumental train wreck breakup,” said Orville Schell, the Arthur Ross director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at Asia Society in New York. “The fabric that we so carefully had woven together over the last several decades is ripping apart.” At risk is a relationship that shaped the global economy in the 21st century. For years, both sides benefited. American companies’ extensive use of China’s factories kept prices in check for American consumers and padded the profits of the country’s biggest companies. China got jobs and investment that lifted millions of Chinese families out of poverty. And as China’s spending power grew, it opened up a giant and lucrative market for American brands. (NYT)

China seeks to strengthen EU, Asean ties as US trade war escalates

  • China and European Union ready to engage on thorny issues such as electric vehicle imports as Trump’s tariff plans spark concerns. (SCMP)

The European Union and China have started negotiations, looking into setting minimum prices of Chinese-made electric vehicles instead of tariffs imposed by the EU last year (Reuters)

Countries hurt by U.S. tariffs could look for other options.

  • “This sets up China as the long-term winner.” Asian countries as a whole could stand to benefit; China, South Korea and Japan recently held their first meeting in five years. There is speculation China and European countries could also grow closer as the drama unfolds, despite frosty relations, marked by recent anti-dumping investigations. (Lisa Xing / CBC)

Staggered by Trump tariff blow, Switzerland leans closer to Europe

  • The US originally imposed tariffs on Switzerland at 31%, much higher than on other European countries. European Union exports were subject to a 20% levy, while Great Britain’s is subject to only 10%. The US calculations underlying these tariffs are strongly contested by Switzerland and other countries. (Swissinfo.ch)
  • Trump’s decision to hit Switzerland with steeper tariffs than most of Europe was a major shock to the export-oriented country, pushing it towards the European Union as it scrambled to contain the fallout. While there was relief that Trump temporarily lowered his tariffs on Wednesday, for advocates of stronger ties the episode confirmed their argument: that a more unpredictable world means Switzerland must increase engagement with its EU neighbours. (Reuters)