Xi’s Push for Stable World of Low Tariffs Undone by Trump, Putin

For Xi Jinping, the main objective during two global summits was to push for a peaceful world with fewer trade barriers so he can focus on reviving China’s economy. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin disrupted those plans.

In more than a dozen meetings with world leaders over a week in South America, Xi repeatedly sought to win assurances that nations would uphold the international free trade system as Trump threatens to put 60% tariffs on Chinese goods. He also continued to walk a tightrope regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which took center stage after Putin spooked markets by removing some guardrails on the use of nuclear weapons.