China Calls Trump's Bluff on Tariffs?

Former White House deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews asserts that China is actively undermining President Donald Trump’s trade negotiations by publicly challenging his claims, essentially “trolling” the administration. Speaking on MSNBC Wednesday, Matthews highlighted a discrepancy between Trump’s recent assertion in TIME magazine – that he’s secured 200 tariff deals with 200 countries – and the reality of the situation. She noted the existence of fewer than 200 countries globally and referenced Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s admission that only one such deal has been finalized to date.

Matthews contends that China perceives Trump’s statements as dishonest and is responding accordingly. “They’re calling his bluff,” she stated, suggesting Beijing doesn’t believe a productive negotiation is possible given the current circumstances. She argues the administration’s 145% tariff proposal is unsustainable, ultimately harming American consumers and small businesses. China, according to Matthews, is strategically delaying engagement, anticipating Trump will eventually concede on the tariffs.

Matthews further pointed to past instances where Trump initially imposed tariffs but later paused their implementation, suggesting a pattern of bluster followed by compromise. This history, she believes, reinforces China’s confidence in its strategy.

The assessment paints a picture of a stalled trade negotiation where one side views the other as lacking credibility and unwilling to follow through on threats. While it’s common for nations to engage in strategic posturing during trade talks, the characterization of China actively “trolling” the U.S. suggests a deeper level of dismissiveness and a lack of genuine engagement. The claim, if accurate, indicates a significant breakdown in diplomatic trust and a potentially prolonged period of economic uncertainty. The reliance on anonymous sourcing (‘Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick let it slip’) weakens the overall argument, however. A direct quote or official statement would lend more weight to the claim of a single deal being finalized.