WSJ Slams Second Major Retreat: More Surrender Than Trump Victory

May 14, 2025 Post a Comment

The Wall Street Journal referred to President Donald Trump’s concession to China this week—as his "second significant withdrawal" within a short period—"as a victory for economic pragmatism."

President Trump's Liberation Day tariffs have seldom faced such swift and decisive rejection as sound policies, and this was accomplished through his very own actions. the Wall Street Journal editorial board writes .

Trump scrapped the brunt of his 145 percent tariff Chinese goods this week and fell back on a 10 percent global base-line tariff, plus a 20 percent tariff related to China's fentanyl trade for a total rate of 30 percent. China, in turn reduced its retaliatory tariff to 10 percent from 125 percent. The deal is good for 90 days.

Just like last week's minor British accord, this deal with China feels more like a concession than a triumph for Trump," the board stated. "Aside from reducing tariffs, both parties did not disclose any significant compromises regarding the core trade concerns weighing down U.S.-China relations. These unresolved matters encompass China's restrictions on American businesses, particularly within sectors like digital and finance, along with their persistent theft of intellectual property.

The editorial board also noted that many of these harmful practices intensified during the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

With “scant sign” of purported trade deals amid Trump’s market turmoil his tariffs have left the economy “with higher trade costs and greater uncertainty for business.”

However, "if there’s a glimmer of hope amid this chaos," the WSJ thinks it might be the markets compelling Trump to "reconsider his illusory notion that imposing steep tariffs will herald a new ' golden era.'"

“The age didn’t last two months, and it was more leaden than golden. White House aide Peter Navarro, the main architect with Mr. Trump of the Liberation Day fiasco, has been repudiated.”

“Mr. Trump will not want to admit it, but he started a trade war with Adam Smith and lost. He’s not the first President to learn that lesson,” the paper argues.

Read the complete article from The Wall Street Journal report here.

・ '"Economic crisis": Why MAGA's tariff advocates 'may face setbacks'

・ 'Significant political rift': Trump faces possible defeat in first tariff test

・ DC insider has an urgent message for America — and the rest of the world

・ Trump cannot make up his mind about whom to blame for a deteriorating agreement that he had pledged to resolve on "day one."