It looks like Beijing will not be backing down on tariffs, whilst Trump brinked in front of the world after bond markets and equity markets melted down, Beijing looks solid. Xi Jinping has reassured the Chinese population that they will not be bullied, this is not a legitimate negotiating tactic and I suggest China holds a greater leverage than the US. Only if the EU and most of Asia fall into line against China would the US have greater leverage, the Trump Administration has burned those countries now. 

Trump has come out and said his phones are constantly ringing, countries are calling him to make deals and people are kissing his arse, “Please Mr President, can we make a deal” he claims in the media. Yes, Trump is really that crass and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt comes across as a card carrying MAGA simpleton fully immersed in conspiracy theories. Everyone can see that Karoline Leavitt is a lackey, she is not taken seriously and is in the job as part of a misinformation campaign. 

Whilst Trump bragged to his MAGA supporters that it will be easy to force China into submission by applying tariffs, this claim has been a little more than mildly misleading. China has contacted Australia to join forces against the Trump Administration on tariffs, this is not going to happen. President Xi seems to forget China imposed tariffs on Australia just recently to pull them into line, this strategy failed and Australia found other markets for its exports. Sometimes, what is not said in diplomatic circles is stronger than what is actually said, there is no value for Australia to join China against the US, it is just not going to happen.