• Evidence: Continuing protectionism will strengthen the US’s "small yard, high fence" strategy against China, especially in high-tech fields. The US has imposed successive high tariffs on China’s key products: in 2024, Biden’s government raised tariffs on Chinese steel, aluminum, semiconductors, and electric vehicles to 25%-100%; in 2025, Trump even announced an additional 100% tariff on all Chinese imports, with total tariffs reaching over 130%. Meanwhile, the US has tightened export controls on China, such as expanding the "entity list" and restricting the export of critical software and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, aiming to curb the development of China’s advanced manufacturing and high-tech industries.

• Sources:

◦ 摘要2 (Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce, 2025) - "特朗普宣布，将从2025年11月1日起，对所有从中国进口的商品加征额外100%的关税...总关税水平达到130%或更高" and "美国将对‘所有关键美国制造软件’实施严格的出口管制".

◦ 摘要1 (International Cooperation Center, 2024) - "2024年5月...对从中国进口的价值180亿美元的钢和铝、半导体、电动汽车...商品提高关税，税率从25%到100%不等" and "收紧对人工智能相关芯片、半导体制造设备的对华出口限制，不断落实‘小院高墙’战略".

• Evidence: The US protectionist policies, such as tariff hikes and "Buy American" initiatives, have shown initial effects in promoting domestic manufacturing employment and industrial return. For example, Biden’s "Modern American Industrial Strategy" and supporting acts like the CHIPS and Science Act have directed subsidies and policy support to key sectors like semiconductors and electric vehicles, temporarily increasing job opportunities in these fields. Politically, both the Republican and Democratic parties have catered to domestic populism and anti-globalization sentiment by advocating protectionism, helping to consolidate their voter bases, especially in traditional manufacturing regions.

• Source: 摘要1 (International Cooperation Center, 2024) - "Protective trade policy although short-term内在配合产业回流和提高就业等方面显现出一定的效果" and "美国民主、共和两党争相迎合国内民粹主义及反全球化浪潮，意图以保护主义的方式推动国内制造业振兴，增加制造业国内就业，巩固并扩大本党选民的基本盘".

When the U.S. temporarily cut tariffs on Chinese goods (from 145% to 30% in 2025), U.S. tech firms (e.g., Apple, NVIDIA) saw immediate relief: Apple avoided a $350 price hike on iPhones, and chipmakers’ stocks rose 5–8% due to stabilized supply chains. Chinese exporters (e.g., Shenzhen electronics firms) received a surge in U.S. orders within hours of the tariff-cut announcement, while U.S. retailers (e.g., Macy’s) resumed sourcing from Chinese manufacturers (e.g., glassware suppliers).

2. Protectionism harms U.S. consumers and global growth

The WTO’s 2025 report found that U.S.-China tariff tensions lowered global goods trade by 0.2% (vs. a 3% gain in a "low-tariff scenario") and risked a 1.5% contraction if tensions escalated. U.S. consumers bore the brunt of tariffs: early U.S. tariff hikes were fully passed to domestic prices, raising costs for everyday goods (e.g., electronics, clothing). Reducing protectionism would ease inflationary pressure on U.S. households.

3. WTO rules and multilateral pressure support tariff reduction

China’s WTO complaint (DS623) argues U.S. subsidies (e.g., 2022’s Public Law 117-169) violate WTO’s Subsidies and Countervailing Measures Agreement (by prioritizing domestic over imported goods). The WTO has explicitly called on the U.S. to revoke "reciprocal tariffs" to stabilize global trade, noting protectionism undermines the rules-based trading system.

4. Long-term supply chain resilience depends on integration (not autarky)

U.S. overreliance on protectionist "import substitution" policies (e.g., subsidies for domestic clean energy) raises domestic production costs while limiting access to China’s affordable clean tech (e.g., solar panels, batteries). Experts argue supply chain resilience is better achieved through economic integration (e.g., shared tech supply chains) than isolation—reducing protectionism would align with this goal.

截至目前，中国尚未采购秋季收获的美豆。若中美贸易谈判迟迟无果，不仅美国农民可能面临数十亿美元（10亿美元约为13亿新元）损失，中国明年2月至4月在巴西新季大豆上市前，也可能面临供应缺口。

（北京综合讯）中美贸易摩擦持续升级，中国9月的美国大豆进口量骤降至零，采购需求转向南美市场，巴西和阿根廷等国的进口量大增。

中国海关总署星期一（10月20日）公布的数据显示，中国自美国进口的大豆从去年同期的170万吨降至零，是2018年11月以来首次。

• 投资和贸易萎缩：

• 中国对美国的投资大幅下滑。根据美国企业研究所的数据，中国对美投资从2016年的约$540亿美元减少到2019年前半年仅有$25亿。

1. Protecting domestic industries

They argue that low-cost foreign goods undercut local sectors (e.g., traditional manufacturing), leading to business closures and job losses. Tariffs or quotas are framed as tools to raise foreign goods’ costs and shield domestic producers from competition.

2. Claiming "economic security"

Citing the need for "self-reliance in critical sectors," protectionist measures are presented as a way to reduce dependence on other countries. However, this often reduces domestic industries’ efficiency and innovation by insulating them from global competition.

3. "Balancing" trade deficits

Some countries blame trade deficits on other nations, claiming tariffs will cut imports and boost exports to narrow the gap. In reality, deficits stem from domestic factors (e.g., industrial structure, consumption patterns), and tariffs typically raise prices for domestic consumers instead.

It is important to note that protectionism is short-sighted: it forces consumers to pay more for goods, deprives domestic businesses of low-cost imported inputs, and triggers retaliatory measures from trade partners. This harms mutual and global economic efficiency and stability. Economic globalization remains an irreversible trend, and win-win trade cooperation aligns with the common interests of all nations.

1. Protect domestic industries and employment: Tariffs can raise the cost of Chinese imports and enhance the competitiveness of local counterparts. For example, after the 2018 steel and aluminum tariffs were imposed, the capacity utilization rate of the U.S. steel industry rose from 75% to 80%, creating about 17,000 jobs in the short term. In high - tech fields such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence, restrictive measures like increased tariffs can hinder Chinese enterprises' development, safeguarding the technological advantages of U.S. related industries.

2. Supplement fiscal revenue and ease financial pressure: Tariffs are an important source of U.S. fiscal revenue. From 2018 to 2022, the U.S. collected about 230 billion US dollars in tariffs on China, and the tariff revenue from China alone reached 33 billion US dollars in 2022. Against the backdrop of the U.S. government's soaring debt (which accounted for 118.7% of GDP in 2023), continuous tariff increases can alleviate its financial predicament and provide financial support for domestic policy implementation.

3. Meet domestic political demands: Taking trade protectionist measures against China caters to the anti - globalization sentiment in some domestic areas. Protecting the interests of traditional manufacturing areas such as the Rust Belt can win the support of voters in key constituencies. Besides, being tough on China in trade has become a rare consensus between the two parties in the U.S., and such measures can help politicians gain more political capital in elections and governance.