Washington, D.C. – April 15, 2025
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton has sounded the alarm on President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, arguing they are eroding U.S. credibility with allies while handing China a strategic edge. In a CNBC interview on April 14, Bolton called Trump’s approach—imposing sweeping tariffs on friends and foes alike—“economic illiteracy” that alienates partners like Canada, Mexico, and the EU, leaving China to capitalize on strained alliances. As Trump’s 90-day tariff pause (except for China’s 145% levy) fuels market uncertainty, Bolton’s critique, aired just as Chinese Premier Xi Jinping tours Southeast Asia, underscores fears that the U.S. is squandering global influence.

Bolton’s Critique: A Strategic Blunder

Bolton, speaking to CNBC’s Dan Murphy, slammed Trump’s tariffs—10% globally, with higher rates like 25% on Canada and 104% on China before the pause—as a misguided attack on allies. “We’re having a war with our friends and really crippling our ability to deal effectively with China,” he said, noting that allies face public humiliation from Trump’s threats, per NBC News. He contrasted this with Xi’s “charm offensive” in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, where China is pitching trade deals to fill gaps left by U.S. friction, per Reuters. X posts amplify the concern: “Trump’s burning bridges while Xi builds them,” one user wrote.

The tariffs, launched April 2 under a “reciprocal” formula tied to trade deficits, tanked markets, erasing $5 trillion from the S&P 500, per CNBC. The April 9 pause eased some pain—European stocks rose 7%, per The Times of India—but Bolton warned the damage to U.S. trust is lasting. “The credibility built since World War II, Trump is shredding,” he told CNBC, arguing China now positions itself as a “stable” alternative. Beijing’s talks with Japan and South Korea for a united tariff response, per The Guardian, bolster his point.

China’s Gain, America’s Loss

While Trump targets China with 145% duties (up from 104%), Bolton argues the broader strategy backfires. “The one country that deserves a trade war—China—we’ve put in a better position by fighting our friends,” he said, citing China’s intellectual property theft, per HuffPost. Instead of rallying allies, Trump’s tariffs isolate them, weakening collective leverage. Canada’s Mark Carney called the pause a “reprieve,” but EU leaders remain wary, per NBC News. Meanwhile, China’s rare-earth export halt hits U.S. autos and defense, per Wikipedia, showing its willingness to escalate.

X reflects the divide. Some users back Trump: “He’s forcing allies to pay their share,” one posted. Others align with Bolton: “We’re pushing everyone to China’s side—dumb move.” Economists agree the tariffs risk $1,300 per U.S. household in costs, per Tax Foundation, while 23 Nobel laureates warn of inflation and deficits, per Wikipedia.

A Familiar Warning

Bolton’s criticism echoes his 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened, where he accused Trump of cozying up to Xi, even allegedly seeking election help in 2019, per CBS News. Though Trump denies this, Bolton’s current stance pivots to strategy, not personal favors, warning that alienating allies like Japan (24% tariff) and Taiwan (32%) undermines U.S. strength. “If we’d joined together, we could’ve impacted China’s behavior,” he told CNBC.

What’s Next?

With Trump teasing electronics tariffs and trade deals “close” with 10+ countries, per adviser Kevin Hassett, per Good Morning America, the path is murky. Bolton’s call for alliance-building faces a White House doubling down on unilateralism. As Xi courts Asia and markets brace for tariff talks, the U.S. risks ceding ground. One X user summed it up: “Bolton’s right—China’s playing chess, we’re playing checkers.” For now, Trump’s gamble tests allies’ patience and China’s opportunism.

By Staff Writer, Global Trade Tribune
Sources: NBC News, CNBC, Reuters, HuffPost, The Guardian, The Times of India, CBS News, Tax Foundation, Wikipedia, Good Morning America, posts on X