NEW YORK (AP) — After several months of relative calm, the simmering trade tensions between the U.S. and China are heating up once again. Phrases like “thaw” and “truce” had replaced the more ominous talk of an economic “war,” but those hopeful signals are fading fast.
Last week saw a flurry of retaliatory actions from both global powers, reviving fears of a full-blown trade conflict. The tit-for-tat measures sent ripples through global markets and reignited uncertainty among investors and policymakers alike.
“Looks like we’re poking the bear again,” remarked Aleksandar Tomic, associate dean at Boston College, highlighting the risky strategy both sides appear to be embracing. In the eyes of many observers, the fragile détente has cracked—raising new questions about how far the tensions might go this time.