Analysis: How China Can Prepare for Trump’s Return

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, his policies exhibit both certainty and uncertainty. What is certain is tariff increases, which he is deeply passionate about. But what remains uncertain is how exactly he would implement them.

Trump’s tactics

There are three potential strategies Trump might adopt. The first is continuing to undermine the current multilateral trade system. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is facing a more severe situation now than during the first Trump presidency. Current WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s term is nearing its end. Even though she is the only candidate for reelection and the Biden administration previously supported her, it remains uncertain whether Biden would cooperate with Trump to block the reappointment of the WTO’s director-general.