The global trade landscape faces a critical juncture as Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers a pointed message against “unilateralism” at the ASEAN Summit, urging the world to steer clear of the “law of the jungle.” This strong rebuke, delivered in Malaysia, precedes a highly anticipated meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in South Korea. Premier Li underscored the irreversible nature of economic globalization and multipolarity, cautioning against practices where dominant powers exploit weaker ones. His remarks follow a significant development where both nations have reported reaching an “initial consensus” on trade, leading to the retraction of a proposed 100% tariff on Chinese products by the United States. This potential de-escalation offers hope for a resolution to the prolonged trade war.
