Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University's Institute of International Relations, said the White House is playing the tariff card to advance its domestic political agenda and secure gains in the upcoming midterm elections.

　　“Given that China is a staunch proponent of globalization, the Trump administration is escalating the 'tariff war' in an attempt to overturn the multilateral trading system of the past decades and recast it in a way that preserves the US' dominance and allows it to continue draining the rest of world,“ Li said.

　　However, global consulting firm PwC told China Daily that the US' “reciprocal tariff“ policy may only encourage other countries to strengthen regional economic cooperation by establishing regional free trade zones and enhancing trade agreements, thereby reducing trade costs and improving supply chain stability.

　　Su Jian, a professor of economics at Peking University, said that for the next step, it is essential for Chinese companies to minimize related risk exposure by adjusting trade partner selection, managing order cycles, reassessing key supply chain interdependency, strengthening communication with US market partners, and preparing for future supply security and pricing mechanisms.