US-China Tariff War / China showed its power, will Trump come to his knees? What was not thought of has happened

US-China Tariff War: China, the world's second-largest economy, has displayed its economic power on the global stage in a way that perhaps no one had imagined - especially the US and its President Donald Trump. China has made public its export-import data for the first quarter of 2025 (January-March), which is not only shocking US policymakers, but is also forcing European countries to think.

Huge jump in exports, decline in imports

China's exports registered a growth of 12.4% year-on-year in March, while imports declined by 4.3%. This has further strengthened China's total trade surplus. In the first quarter of 2025, China's trade surplus with the US reached $76.6 billion, while in March it was $27.6 billion.

This data is also of special importance because it has come to light when the US has imposed an unprecedented tariff of up to 145% on Chinese exports. Despite this, the increase in China's exports is an indication that China has not only prepared a response to America's economic moves, but has also made inroads into alternative export markets.

China-US tariff war: But who wins?

Despite the heavy tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, China's trade graph is rising. China's exports have registered a significant increase, especially to South-East Asian and African countries. In March, exports to South-East Asian countries saw a growth of about 17% and to Africa by 11%.

In retaliation, China has also imposed tariffs of up to 125% on American products from April. This is a direct message that China is not going to back down now, but has further strengthened its strategy and trade front.

"We will not kneel down" - China's clear message

Customs Administration spokesman Liu Daliang said in a press conference that China is currently facing complex and serious global conditions, but it will not back down. He also underlined that China has remained the world's second largest importer for 16 consecutive years, and its global share has increased from 8% to 10.5%.

This simply means that China has now become a major player not only on the export front, but also in the field of domestic consumption and imports. This is a big signal for the world economy that China will remain a permanent and influential trading force.

Xi Jinping's turn towards Asian countries

President Xi Jinping's regional tour - Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia - is another indication of China's strategy. These visits are taking place at a time when the tariff war between the US and China is at its peak. The 17% increase in China's exports to Vietnam and a 2.7% decline in imports show that China is fully active in looking for alternative partners and cooperation.

Will Trump come under pressure now?

The question that arises now is - will US President Donald Trump soften his stance now? The aggressive trade policy with which he tried to subdue China is now seen to be taking its toll on America itself. China's economic aggressiveness and strategic shrewdness have put Trump's policy in the dock.