Washington’s tariff bluster now rings hollow. Having weaponized trade to bully allies and rivals alike, the U.S. finds its coercion exposed as self-defeating — isolating it from partners, eroding trust, and shrinking its sway in global commerce. “America First” has curdled into “America Alone.”

China’s defiance masks deep vulnerability. With one-fifth of its workforce tied to exports, and growth chained to foreign demand, Xi faces rising joblessness and fading leverage. His threats ring hollow as U.S. tariffs bite and allies drift away, revealing an economy too brittle to withstand a prolonged cold war.

Washington’s tariff bluster now rings hollow. Having weaponized trade to bully allies and rivals alike, the U.S. finds its coercion exposed as self-defeating — isolating it from partners, eroding trust, and shrinking its sway in global commerce. “America First” has curdled into “America Alone.”