Trump’s tariff investigation ‘bluff’ will not work on China, analysts warn

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Frank ChenMarch 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM

AI Summary

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Analysts believe the U.S.'s new Section 301 investigations into China and other economies are a strategic maneuver by President Trump ahead of his expected trip to China. The investigations, targeting alleged unfair trade practices related to "structural excess capacity and production," could lead to higher tariffs. Initiated by the U.S. Trade Representative, the probes involve 16 trade partners, including India, Japan, Mexico, and the European Union. Experts suggest this move is intended to appeal to Trump's domestic base and create leverage in negotiations with China. However, analysts contend that China is unlikely to be swayed, viewing it as a familiar tactic stemming from U.S. domestic politics.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

India 40% European Union 40% Mexico 40% Japan 40% Shanghai Institute of Finance and Law 50% Office of the US Trade Representative 60% Fu Weigang 60% Beijing ×260% United States 80% Donald Trump ×390% China ×690%

Keywords

china 100% tariffs 90% trade practices 80% section 301 80% trade investigation 70% unfair trade 70% us-china relations 60% trade war 50% domestic politics 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.20

Source Transparency

Source

South China Morning Post

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis.

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