Is the US actually too chicken to take on China for trade?
The article argues that the US government's trade strategy against China is ineffective, as Chinese goods continue to enter the US market through third-party countries. Despite new AI-powered border monitoring tools, the author contends that these measures fail to address the underlying trade imbalances or restore domestic manufacturing.
Why it matters
It highlights the limitations of protectionist trade policies in a globalized supply chain and the ongoing struggle to decouple US and Chinese economies.
Container ships berthed at Yantian port on 18 August 2026 in Shenzhen, China. Container ships berthed at Yantian port on 18 August 2026 in Shenzhen, China. Trump administration Analysis Is the US actually too chicken to take on China for trade? Eduardo Porter A weak yuan guarantees Beijing massive trade surplus even as the White House tries tamp down on Chinese imports
Since China offered a truce in the trade war last October following its threat to deprive the United States of rare-earth magnets, the Trump administration has been happy to stop escalating. After all, imports from China have been falling, down by 40% in the year to June, compared with the same period in 2024. Best to declare victory and call it a day.
But the US hasn’t won this battle – and there’s strong evidence to show it’s too chicken to really try.
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