Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is urging G20 nations to erect trade barriers against China to combat a 1,2 nghìn tỷ USD trade surplus. Despite fast-improving direct trade balances for Washington, U.S. officials argue Beijing’s export-heavy strategy destabilizes the global economy and requires immediate multilateral intervention.
Global trade tensions have shifted toward a multilateral showdown as top financial policymakers gather for international talks. U.S. officials are pressing major economies to reassess their commercial relationships with Beijing, pointing to an export volume that Washington argues the rest of the world can no longer absorb.
Targeting a 1,2 nghìn tỷ USD Trade Surplus
Speaking ahead of the G20 finance leaders’ meeting, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent argued that Beijing’s heavy reliance on foreign markets to offset weak domestic consumption creates unsustainable global imbalances according to the source reporting. While Washington notes that its own bilateral trade balance with China is improving rapidly, policymakers maintain that the broader economic model in Asia’s largest economy remains structurally flawed.
The world cannot accept a China with a trade surplus of up to 1,2 nghìn tỷ USD. The Chinese economy is in a sluggish state. They are trying to get out of this situation by pushing exports while in reality they need to rebalance the economy. Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary, via Bao Quoc Te
The push for coordinated international action stems from fears that cheap manufactured goods are flooding international markets. Economists cited in regional coverage warn that unchecked surpluses threaten domestic manufacturing sectors across G20 member states as detailed by the outlet. To protect local industries, Washington contends that nations must consider implementing targeted tariff or non-tariff barriers to force a shift toward internal consumer demand.
Escalating Tariffs and Global Supply Chain Friction
The United States has already moved aggressively to shield its domestic market, erecting trade barriers that include tariffs and complete bans on specific product categories such as automobiles.
Consequently, Bessent asserted that the rest of the world will have to reconsider trade terms with China. Such a shift risks provoking retaliatory measures, complicating global supply chains, and fueling ongoing technological and regulatory friction.
Simultaneous Investigations and Industrial Capacity Probes
This diplomatic pressure unfolds alongside widening regulatory crackdowns in Washington. On March 11, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative launched an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 targeting 16 economies—including China, the European Union, Japan, and South Korea—over manufacturing overcapacity according to published trade filings. Washington argues that production exceeding domestic demand forces artificial export surges, undercutting American industrial investments.
Friction has also intensified in technology and export controls. Following U.S. restrictions targeting technology products and adding more than 40 Chinese entities to lists concerning forced labor allegations, Beijing fired back. China’s Ministry of Commerce announced tighter export controls on drone equipment, related components, and technology, while sanctioning seven American organizations in response noted the outlet.
High-Stakes Diplomatic Calendar Ahead
These converging disputes threaten to overshadow upcoming high-level diplomacy. Analysts note that the trade disagreements form a tense backdrop for a prospective meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping scheduled for Washington on September 24, while a broader bilateral trade truce is slated to expire on November 10 according to international analysts. As G20 members weigh Washington’s call for unified trade barriers, the coming months will test whether major economies can bridge deep divides over industrial policy and global market access.
