The Wall Street Journal’s conservative editorial board recently weighed in on President Donald Trump’s decision to back down from imposing mega-tariffs on China, calling it a significant retreat rather than a triumph for the White House. In an op-ed published on their website, the editorial board criticized the move as “more surrender than Trump victory.”
The editorial board expressed disappointment in Trump’s abrupt reversal of his tariffs, which they described as a repudiation of sound economic policy. They have been vocal critics of Trump’s trade policies, particularly his reliance on tariffs during his second term in office.
According to the Journal, Trump’s approach has damaged America’s ability to form a united front with other countries against China’s trade practices. By imposing tariffs on allies, Trump has eroded trust in America’s economic and political reliability.
Despite these setbacks, the editorial board suggested that there may be a silver lining to the situation. They noted that market forces have compelled Trump to abandon his belief that high tariffs would lead to a new era of economic prosperity. The Journal characterized Trump’s tariff strategy as a “fever dream” that quickly fizzled out without achieving the desired results.
Under the terms of the agreement announced on Monday, both China and the U.S. have agreed to temporarily halt the majority of tariffs for a period of 90 days. American tariffs on Chinese imports will be reduced from 145% to 30%, while Chinese tariffs on U.S. imports will decrease from 125% to 10%.
Overall, the Journal’s editorial board remains skeptical of Trump’s trade tactics and their impact on the global economy. They caution that while the recent agreement may provide some relief, the underlying issues in the U.S.-China trade relationship are far from resolved.
