During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump branded himself as a fierce opponent of China, vowing to protect American jobs and industry. But many of his major economic and foreign policy decisions have actually given China room to grow stronger. From tariffs to global alliances, here’s how Trump-era moves have opened new doors for Beijing.

1. Tariffs Are Hurting Americans More Than China

Trump’s trade war imposed hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs on Chinese imports. The goal was to pressure China, but studies found the strategy has backfired. A Moody’s report revealed that over 90% of the added costs are being paid by U.S. companies and consumers, not China. American businesses have faced higher costs, while Chinese exporters have found other markets.

2. Abandoning TPP Has Given China a Strategic Win

One of Trump’s earliest actions was pulling the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade agreement designed to unite Pacific nations and counterbalance China’s regional dominance. Without U.S. leadership, China has stepped into the gap, helping to lead the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), now the world’s largest trade pact.

3. China Has Rewired Its Trade Relationships

While U.S. tariffs made headlines, China has quietly diversified its trading partners. It strengthened economic ties with Southeast Asia, the EU, and Latin America. By mid-2025, China’s exports had risen significantly, including a 5.8% jump in June alone, driven largely by demand from outside the U.S.

4. Sanctions Have Accelerated China’s Tech Ambitions

Trump’s restrictions on companies like Huawei were meant to suppress China’s tech rise, but they also pushed Beijing to double down on self-sufficiency. The result: massive state investment in semiconductors, AI, and quantum computing. Programs like “Made in China 2025” have become central to its long-term innovation strategy.

5. Chip Rollbacks Have Supercharged China’s AI Push

In a move that shocked many analysts, the Trump administration recently loosened export restrictions on advanced AI chips, including Nvidia’s H20 model, allowing U.S. firms to resume selling to Chinese customers. According to Vox, this gave China a major advantage in catching up on foundational AI infrastructure, a sector the U.S. had previously tried to wall off.

6. Climate Rollbacks Have Handed China a Clean Tech Edge

Trump’s dismantling of federal climate policies, including cuts to clean energy research and subsidies, have undermined U.S. competitiveness in electric vehicles, batteries, and solar tech. Meanwhile, China is surging ahead. As Yale Climate Connections points out, China now leads in nearly every clean energy sector the U.S. once dominated.

7. Global Leadership Has Vacuum Benefited Beijing

Trump’s “America First” agenda has alienated U.S. allies and weakened trust in American leadership. In contrast, China has positioned itself as a more stable partner, signing trade deals, expanding its Belt and Road Initiative, and presenting itself as a reliable actor on the world stage.