(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump’s trade war with China has led to financial turmoil but when it comes to continuing the fight, he and Chinese President Xi Jinping face very different pressures.
While most tariffs are paused, tariffs against China remain in place, and experts warn consumers could see the impact soon.
Trump has levied 145% tariffs against China while Xi has levied 125% tariffs against the U.S.
Earlier this week, Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said there is a chance the tariffs could be lowered.
One possible reason for the shift is that a number of high-profile business owners were painting a dire picture of what a prolonged trade war might look like, with higher prices, empty shelves and layoffs.
Several opinion polls also showed Trump losing support, with 77% of Americans believing tariffs would increase prices, and his approval rating on the economy dropping to 37%.
On the other side, Xi does not have the same checks in terms of worrying about voter support. An authoritarian leader, his party has been in power for decades.
Xi has also enhanced the security state and surveillance state, so if there were job losses that might lead to protests, those things would not hold him to account the same way as Trump.