‘To throw Americans out of work, start a trade war’: China weaponises Ronald Reagan to undercut Trump’s trade war narrative

China has thrown Ronald Reagan’s words back at Donald Trump to slam the former US president’s surging tariffs, escalating a fierce trade war. With levies now soaring as high as 145%, Beijing has warned of global consequences. US tech firms are reeling, Chinese factories are freezing exports, and historic trade ties are fraying. Yet Trump’s team insists allies are rushing to America’s side—even as critics say his isolationist tactics are burning bridges that once kept China in check.