'China containment'

In early March, US President Donald Trump announced a package of section 232 tariffs on raw materials goods such as aluminum and steel in order to punish China for its “aggressive” trade policies, which allegedly compromise American national security. With the threat of these tariffs on the horizon, China prepared its own tit-for-tat tariff measures in response to Trump’s imposition, which went live once their American counterparts saw implementation, three weeks into the month.

Following the Trump administration’s introduction of its section 232 tariff package, largely tariffs on metals like steel and aluminum, China brought its own retaliatory tariff package to the table, mirroring the actions of the US.