### **Who Holds the Leverage in the U.S.-China Trade War? Experts Analyze Economic and Political Stakes**
The escalating trade war between the U.S. and China has become a high-stakes battle of economic resilience and political willpower. With the U.S. imposing tariffs totaling **145%** on Chinese goods and China retaliating with **125% tariffs** on American products, both nations are leveraging their economic strengths to force concessions. Experts suggest that while the U.S. benefits from China’s reliance on its export market, China holds critical advantages in rare earth materials and political endurance. The question remains: **Which side can withstand the economic pain longer?**
### **Economic Leverage: Trade Imbalance vs. Supply Chain Dependencies**
The U.S. imports significantly more from China (**$438 billion in 2023**) than it exports, giving it leverage by threatening China’s export-driven economy. However, this reliance also means **U.S. consumers face higher prices and potential shortages** of essential goods like electronics, apparel, and toys. Meanwhile, China depends on U.S. agricultural exports (soybeans, wheat) and energy products, but its authoritarian system allows it to absorb economic shocks better than the U.S., where political pressure from voters and businesses could force concessions. Additionally, China’s control over **rare earth minerals**—critical for U.S. defense and tech industries—gives it a strategic upper hand, as the U.S. lacks immediate alternatives.
### **Political Resilience: Who Can Withstand the Pain Longer?**
China’s centralized governance enables it to enforce policies despite economic downturns, as seen during its strict **zero-COVID lockdowns**. In contrast, the U.S. political system is more vulnerable to public discontent, with elections and business lobbying influencing policy shifts. While China’s government derives legitimacy from economic growth, prolonged trade disruptions could still weaken its stability. Experts suggest the trade war may persist until **both sides find a politically viable exit strategy**, but for now, the world watches to see **who blinks first**.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/country-leverage-us-china-trade-war-experts-weigh/story?id=120713403.