Trump's tariffs are trampling alliances against China

President Donald Trump insists his tariffs on U.S. imports of foreign goods will bolster the economy. With his 90-day pause on higher-rate tariffs and his shift to 10% standard-rate tariffs on Wednesday, Trump appears to have realized his policies were doing far more harm than good. He is right to change tack.

Still, apart from Trump’s now-125%-rate tariffs on China, which are justified in confronting America’s keystone nemesis, Trump’s tariff policies are causing significant damage to U.S. alliances. This is particularly problematic regarding the effect on U.S.-led alliances focused on China.