Trump’s tariff reversals: A blow to American credibility in Korea

Transactional diplomacy brought America’s reliability into question. Now, China’s win on the tariffs question brings America’s credibility into question.

The Trump administration's decision to substantially reduce tariffs on Chinese imports marks a shift in what started out not as coherent trade policy but as macho bluster. That mucho bluster became all but weak and sterile with China, but is still biting and bullying with South Korea.

President Trump's tariffs… who can really recall all the changes? China faced up to a 245% tariff on imports - that was a 125% reciprocal tariff, and a 20% tariff to address the fentanyl crisis, and a Section 301 tariffs on specific goods, between 7.5% and 100%... and a blusterous red-faced rage retributory 100%... until it became much lower to address rapidly emptying shelves for products ranging from phones to furniture and more. Down to 50% and 65%, and much lower still for those that impact the end of town…

A retreat under pressure from market instability and domestic interests. All up - egg on the face, for a poorly thought out tariff policy.

Enter South Korea - ready to negotiate.