Last Updated on October 30, 2025
After his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that China’s economy is “like an ocean”—vast, resilient, and capable of withstanding any storm. This is part of the latest developments regarding the China–U.S. Trade War. His statement, reported by the state agency Xinhua, came amid renewed efforts to stabilize relations between the world’s two largest economies following years of tariff tensions and trade restrictions.
A Symbolic Meeting Amid Persistent Trade Tensions
The meeting between Xi and Trump in Seoul, South Korea, took place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, marking a rare high-level discussion between Beijing and Washington after months of tariff escalation and technology disputes.
Xi emphasized that cooperation between China and the United States would benefit both sides far more than confrontation.
“We must focus on the long-term benefits of collaboration instead of being trapped in cycles of retaliation,” he said.
According to reports, economic and trade teams from both nations held “in-depth talks” and reached preliminary consensus on resolving key issues, though no formal agreement was announced.
The State of the China–U.S. Trade War in 2025
As of 2025, the China–U.S. trade war remains one of the most consequential geopolitical and economic rivalries in history. Since the conflict began in 2018 under Trump’s administration, both nations have imposed hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs on each other’s goods.
- U.S. tariffs currently cover more than $360 billion worth of Chinese imports, targeting electronics, steel, and renewable energy components.
- China has retaliated with tariffs on about $110 billion in U.S. goods, including agricultural products, automobiles, and energy exports.
Despite multiple negotiation rounds, many tariffs remain in place, and both nations have moved toward economic decoupling — reducing dependence on each other’s supply chains, especially in semiconductors, AI, and clean energy technologies.
In 2025, the World Trade Organization (WTO) estimated that the trade war had reduced global GDP by 0.3% annually, with ripple effects across Asia and Europe.
China’s Economic Resilience: “An Ocean That Can Absorb the Storm”
Xi’s metaphor of China’s economy as an ocean reflects the government’s confidence in its domestic stability despite external pressures.
China’s GDP growth, though slower than in the pre-pandemic decade, remains steady at around 4.7% in 2025, according to the IMF. Strong domestic consumption, expanding renewable industries, and continued export growth to emerging markets have cushioned the impact of U.S. restrictions.
Beijing’s ongoing industrial reforms and shift toward technological self-sufficiency — especially in chips, aerospace, and green tech — form a central part of its long-term economic strategy.
Comparison: U.S. Trade Conflicts with Other Nations
While tensions with China dominate headlines, the U.S. has also engaged in trade disputes with other major partners:
- European Union: The U.S. reintroduced limited tariffs on European steel and aluminum in 2025 over climate policy disputes, though both sides remain aligned on technology standards and defense cooperation.
- India: The U.S. imposed restrictions on Indian pharmaceutical and digital service exports amid patent disagreements, prompting retaliatory duties from New Delhi.
- Mexico: New tensions arose after U.S. demands for stricter enforcement of labor standards under the USMCA agreement.
However, none of these rivalries match the scale and strategic impact of the China–U.S. confrontation, which spans technology, military competition, and control over global trade networks.
China’s Approach: Reform and Opening Up
Xi reiterated Beijing’s pledge to continue its “reform and opening up” policy — a phrase that has defined China’s economic transformation since the late 1970s.
“China does not seek to replace any country,” Xi stated. “We focus on doing our own work well while contributing to global prosperity.”
China has recently announced new measures to attract foreign investment in high-tech manufacturing, finance, and renewable energy, aiming to maintain global investor confidence despite political friction.
Interesting Facts:
- China and the U.S. together account for nearly 40% of global GDP and over one-third of total global trade volume.
- As of 2025, bilateral trade between the two nations still exceeds $650 billion annually, despite tariffs.
- The semiconductor industry has become the key battleground — the U.S. controls 80% of high-end chip design tools, while China is investing over $140 billion in domestic chip manufacturing through 2030.
Final Thoughts
Xi Jinping’s statement that China’s economy is “like an ocean” symbolizes more than resilience — it reflects Beijing’s strategic confidence in the face of global headwinds. While U.S.–China relations remain tense, both sides recognize the high costs of full economic separation.
As global trade patterns shift and new alliances emerge, the world’s two largest economies may continue to compete fiercely — yet both know that cooperation, not confrontation, will define the true stability of the 21st-century global economy.
Featured image – Pixabay