Economists: Situation could change quickly as Pres. Trump doubles down on trade with China

President Trump is doubling down on his efforts to level the playing field on trade, including doubling the tariff rate on China.

Arlan Suderman with StoneX says China is a unique trade partner but notes the President has no time to waste.

“The thing to understand about China is they value relationship negotiations. You may have different values than I do, but if we have a relationship of respect, we can do business. So, President Trump focused on that during his first term, speaking very respectfully on Xi Jinping, and so, as a part of that Chinese culture, they like to negotiate face to face. But they kept dragging things out, and they forced Trump into 13 face-to-face negotiations, Trump and his team, and that drug it out for several years and bought time for China, and Trump’s saying, ‘This time, I don’t have that kind of time.’”

Suderman says Trump might also feel like he has the momentum right now. China’s economy is struggling far worse than it was in Trump’s first term, leaving them particularly vulnerable. Trump doubled their tariff rate to 20 percent this week after a previous 10 percent last month.

Related Stories
U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) shares his outlook on the developing U.S.-China Trade agreement, and the ongoing impact of the federal government shutdown—now stretching past four weeks—on rural communities and producers.
RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to discuss what the Carney-Xi meeting could mean for Canadian producers.
Texas A&M livestock economist Dr. David Anderson joins Tony St. James to discuss the geopolitical tensions and U.S.-Mexico border closure that are leading to sharp swings in the cattle market.
Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association (ASA), shares his reaction to news of soybean sales to China, which is considered both “welcome news” and a return to near-normal trade relations.
Rabobank’s outlook signals a tightening margin environment, emphasizing the need for cost control, trade stability, and clearer policy signals heading into 2026.
Farm Bureau Economist Faith Parum discusses key outcomes from the U.S.-China trade agreement and the benefits of expanding trade across Southeast Asia.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

University of Nebraska–Lincoln ag educator Matt Kreifels discusses his recent FFA Alumni award and the future of ag education.
Mexico plans to release 202,000 acre-feet of water into the Rio Grande, offering temporary relief to South Texas farmers as Congress advances the PERMIT Act.
Analysts say that while low-income households are facing financial pressures, other middle- and higher-income consumers are helping fill the gap for retail beef demand.
Despite China’s sharp drop in grain purchases this year, new USDA export data this week shows that even some buying activity from the trade giant still moves the markets.