On April 26, 2025, the Tsinghua University Association for China-U.S. People-to-People Exchange and CISS Youth of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) co-hosted a forum titled “Cross-Border Trade and the International Order under the Trump Administration’s ‘Reciprocal Tariff’ Policy.” The event brought together nine guest speakers from Tsinghua University, Yale University, HeLi Advisory, Vision Capital, and other institutions to discuss the impact of the Trump administration’s proposed reciprocal tariff hikes on global trade and the world order.
The forum received strong support from the Association of Students for International Communication (ASIC) and the Tsinghua University Student Entrepreneurship Association. Over forty students from Tsinghua University, Peking University, and China Foreign Affairs University attended the forum online. The forum was co-moderated by Yin Zihan, Vice President of the Tsinghua Association for China-U.S. People-to-People Exchange, and Ye Zichen from the CISS Youth Secretariat.
The first half of the forum focused on the implications of the tariff policy for the international order. Song Bo, Assistant Research Fellow at CISS, argued that the Trump administration currently prioritizes two major policy goals: promoting a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict and implementing reciprocal tariffs. He noted that the administration approaches military issues with a transactional mindset and trade issues with a militarized perspective, reflecting changes in public sentiment and societal consensus. Rick Dunham, Co-Director of Tsinghua’s Global Business Journalism Program, highlighted the destabilizing effects of Trump’s trade policy on the global economic order, suggesting it could lead to inflation, supply shortages, and the loss of manufacturing jobs. Zhao Ji, Founding Partner of Vision Capital, emphasized the need to understand the historical context of Trump’s tariffs and pointed to China’s leading position in automobile manufacturing as evidence of its growing industrial strength. He argued that the rational choice for the U.S. is cooperation rather than containment, while warning that such policies could worsen conditions for Chinese Americans.
From an American perspective, Schwarzman Scholar Bryson Wiese noted that understanding the composition of Trump’s administration is key to grasping its tariff policy, particularly the roles of Treasury Secretary Bessent, Commerce Secretary Lutnick, and Trade Advisor Navarro. Fellow Schwarzman Scholar Andrew DeWeese discussed the influence of "China hawks" within the administration and identified immigration, tariffs, and "peace-making" as Trump’s three core policy areas. He called on youth in both China and the U.S. to take the initiative in fostering better communication and understanding.
The second half of the forum explored the specific impacts of the tariff policy on international trade. Zhao Xiuye, a doctoral researcher at CISS, argued that Trump’s policy reflects a misunderstanding of modern global trade, which is now shaped by networked supply chains rather than simple point-to-point exchanges. He also questioned whether tariffs would effectively bring manufacturing back to the U.S., pointing out that the arbitrary nature of such policies could deter rational investment. Zou Yifan, Founder of HeLi Advisory, noted that Trump’s tariffs are not an anomaly in U.S. history but a continuation of long-standing efforts to protect domestic industries and restructure the economy. Drawing from his personal experience in Kentucky, he highlighted America’s overconsumption problem and advocated for resolving trade tensions through industrial restructuring.
Li Mingde, Deputy General Manager of Guangxi Qidi Innovation Cross-Border E-commerce Co., stated that the “reciprocal tariff” policy presents challenges for the cross-border e-commerce sector but has also accelerated its pivot to emerging markets, innovation, and supply chain collaboration. Schwarzman Scholar Zach Zhang traced the origins of the policy to Trump’s desire to reshape the U.S.’s global image with an “America First” agenda. He analyzed the three main factions within the Trump administration and stressed the importance of exploring new mechanisms for China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges.
The forum explored the wide-ranging effects of Trump’s tariff policy across regions and industries, as well as potential responses from youth. The guest speakers’ insights inspired active participation and reflection. The event helped attendees better understand their responsibilities amid global change and encouraged greater involvement in international engagement, particularly in China-U.S. exchange initiatives.