This is an opinion from the Center.
At the end of October, President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, a conflict that began earlier this year after the US imposed heavy tariffs on Chinese goods.
Since China began opening its economy in the 70s and 80s, the world has increasingly turned to China for its manufacturing needs. From cheap plastic goods to low-cost clothing, it seems that nearly everything sold on Amazon bears the familiar “Made in China” label.
Trump has faced sharp criticism from both the right and the left for his tariff strategy. The New York Times (Lean Left bias) nearly prophesied an economic collapse as a result of these policies and the National Review (Right) called them reckless. The truth about tariffs, however, is that their effects take time to materialize. So far, despite isolated sectors suffering losses, the broader US economy has remained strong, and overall growth has continued during this period.
That said, there are areas that have been hit particularly hard. One is the rare earth minerals sector, where China dominates production, especially in materials used for farming equipment and, more critically, for military technology. This dependency was one of the key issues discussed during Trump’s recent meeting with President Xi.
Across the political spectrum, reactions to the meeting were largely negative. Earlier in the year, many media outlets condemned Trump’s tariffs as reckless and harmful. Now, the same outlets criticized him for attempting to ease tensions with China. MSNBC (Left) reported, “Trump’s latest China deal is anything but a win,” while The New York Times asked, “Will Trump’s tariff deal tilt the playing field back toward China?” The Geopolitical Economy Report concluded, “Trump is clearly losing the trade war with China—which he started. This is why.”
It’s almost as if the media can’t decide which direction to lean, criticizing Trump’s actions regardless of whether he escalates or de-escalates the conflict.
Trump has assured that China will not take action against Taiwan, citing America’s significant economic ties to the island, particularly through its microchip and semiconductor industries.
Following the meeting, Trump appeared optimistic, stating that he remains open to maintaining dialogue and negotiation with China, calling it “a great power.”
In my opinion, maintaining open communication with adversaries is always a good thing. History shows us that dialogue, even between opponents can lead to progress. The fall of the Berlin Wall, for instance, was made possible not by silence, but by communication and negotiation, even in the most difficult times.
Chris Mangum is a soldier in the U.S. Army National Guard. He has a Center bias.
Reviewed by News & Bias Analyst Johnathon Held (Lean Right) and News & Bias Analyst Emily Allen (Lean Left).
