Donald Trump’s trade policies have been characterized by an aggressive use of tariffs, driven by his belief in balancing bilateral trade and prioritizing American production. While these measures have reshaped trade dynamics and escalated protectionism within the U.S., they have also inadvertently strengthened China's global economic position and highlighted the limitations of decoupling efforts.

BRICS countries, with a combined GDP approximately 1.5 times that of the United States, can be expected to retaliate against promised U.S. tariffs. These countries — many of which are major traders with China — are likely to make Donald Trump regret his bellicose bullying.

A fundamental shift in how the international community approaches global governance is required. Through concerted action, nations can resist the pull of unilateralism and build a more inclusive and stable international order.

The Trump administration’s blame-driven approach to U.S.-China relations fueled mutual losses and entrenched scapegoating of China for U.S. domestic issues. Ultimately, subnational diplomacy and pragmatic collaboration are essential for rebuilding constructive ties.

The recent election in the United States has given Russia an opportunity to restart strategic dialogues. Under Donald Trump’s leadership, however, U.S.-Russia relations are likely to be dominated by containment and counter-containment. Meanwhile, Russia believes that Russia-China relations are central to world security and can counter Trump’s inclination to make peace through force.

A change in America’s political leadership will bring challenges, but China is not as vulnerable as some say. Aggressive U.S. policies could push China to diversify its investments and explore new markets, while projecting itself as a stable and predictable power.

Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election is worrisome. People-to-people exchanges between China and the United States faced many challenges during his first term, and the Republican Party Platform is not friendly to outsiders. There could be stormy weather ahead.

The country is capable of mitigating any ill effects should Trump return to the aggressive form of his first term. China may feel some pressure, but it has built a multilayered economic defense involving domestic demand, fiscal policies, high-tech innovation and international cooperation.

As the outgoing Biden administration gives way to the incoming Trump administration, Presidents Biden and Xi Jinping met in Lima, Peru for the final time as national leaders. The working summit meeting caps four years of turbulent relations between the two nations and governments. But despite tensions, the two sides have managed to successfully reestablish channels of intergovernmental communication that have served to stabilize the relationship to some extent.

Europe may be entering a quasi-competitive phase with the United States — no longer occupying the center of U.S. foreign policy. Rather, it will have to face Trump’s tendency to de-prioritize allies, which will likely add fuel to Europe’s drive toward strategic autonomy.