Reciprocity or Threat? Unpacking New U.S. Tariffs

On Thursday, the U.S. government rolled out a fresh set of tariffs, imposing rates between 10% and 41% on goods from dozens of trading partners. Designed, according to officials, as “reciprocal” measures, these duties have shaken markets and sparked debate on the real logic behind them.

To unpack the impact, CGTN host Tian Wei spoke with Yuqing Xing, a professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo. Xing argues that these so-called reciprocal tariffs don’t add up economically. “The U.S. is using its power to pressure other countries while demanding that they do not retaliate,” he explains. “This is not reciprocity, but chaos.”

For young global citizens and business enthusiasts, the move raises questions about stability in international trade. If economic logic gives way to power dynamics, markets could face unpredictable swings—impacting entrepreneurs, travelers, and digital nomads alike.

So, what’s next? As the world watches for potential countermeasures, the core debate remains: are we witnessing a balanced trade reset or a high-stakes game of geopolitical one-upmanship?

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Reciprocity or threat? Rethinking U.S. tariff logic

cgtn.com