The IDEAL time to confront China's govt's trade transgressions(currency manipulation,int. prop. theft,export dumping,etc) were 10-15 yrs ago in the latter Obama and first Trump term. Xi was new and feeling his way and China was much weaker militarily,Europe was not in the turmoil it is now w/War in Ukraine and questioning USA's resolve , Russia was not an under sanction outcast and hadn't even moved on Crimea yet.
THAT was the time to try to pressure China for trade fairness from a position of strength when Europe as well as Japan/S. Korea/Australia all would relatively acquiesced and went along. China is much stronger now as is Mr. Xi,they have known a trade crisis is coming and have prepared, economically,psychologically,and even militarily as capability wise they have gone from a chimpanzee to a gorilla in the last decade and a half. They are more nationalistic,proud, and confident and no longer fear the US. Their social media is filled w/ posts saying NOW is the time to steamroll Taiwan and they are looking at us comically showing overweight Americans sitting in factories at sewing machines,spoofing Trumps "liberation" claims.
Does Trump really believe we can out suffer the Chinese pop.?
Does anyone think we can prevail over China's authoritarian system when it comes to tolerating pain,despite Trumps delusions of authoritarian grandeur we still are a nation where citizens will protest and scream bloody murder if economic pain approaches serious hurt?
The Chinese were literally "locked down" during Covid, IN THEY'RE HOMES AS PRISONERS ,they can/will/have to tolerate just about ANYTHING
Any chance Trump had he blew dissing ALL our prior allies,and NOW he expects them to line up behind us in a dick measuring mano a mano economic pain contest w/ the Chinese.
Trump's cruel,boorish,arrogance has plenty out there Internationally wishing/waiting,dying to see him get his and increasingly he is being outed as full of hot air w/no backbone.
I don't know what's to come of this perilous"new world reality" when chaos and instability prevail, I know historically opportunists exploit these conditions though and would be a hell of a lot more confident if Trump and his band of gutless collaborators weren't in the Oval Office and we we're backed by ALLIES who looked to us, respected/trusted us,and had genuine affection for America.