The US has shown weakness in its trade war with China by creating carve-outs for consumer electronics from its recent 145% tariffs.
While the White House defends these exceptions as strategic, critics see them as evidence of America’s vulnerable position against a well-prepared China.
The US faces a difficult balance – imposing tariffs to bring manufacturing home while simultaneously hurting American manufacturers who depend on Chinese parts.
China, having prepared for this confrontation, has responded with a mix of countermeasures including tariffs, export restrictions on critical minerals, and targeting American firms.