BEIJING China has launched a sweeping diplomatic offensive in response to new U.S. tariffs and mounting international trade investigations, as Beijing works to reframe its global image and stabilize economic relations.
President Xi Jinping is leading the charge by lifting sanctions on selected European Union officials and proposing a new wave of multilateral trade agreements with partners across Asia, Europe, and Latin America. These steps mark a strategic recalibration aimed at presenting China as a collaborative economic power, rather than a global disruptor.
The move comes amid heightened accusations that China is flooding international markets with artificially cheap exports including electric vehicles, steel, and solar panels—allegedly undercutting domestic industries in the West.
Despite China’s charm offensive, deep skepticism remains among Western governments and trade analysts. Many see the country’s surplus-driven economic model and state subsidies as structural threats to fair trade and global competition.
Xi’s diplomatic pivot signals a shift from confrontation to persuasion, but trade hawks in Washington and Brussels have already called for tighter countermeasures unless concrete changes follow.
