The question then is which does Trump want more: more tariff revenue or perceived international policy victories?

Some of the purported concessions that led to a 30-day pause on the tariffs were things Canada and Mexico had already done before Trump’s threat, but it’s complicated.

President Trump campaigned on using tariffs to revive domestic industry and fill America's coffers, but the tariff strategy now looks more muddled than ever. Why it matters: Trump has sent mixed signals about why his administration is slapping tariffs on billions of dollars' worth of imports,

The World Trade Organization said China submitted a request for consultations with the U.S. on the tariffs. China said the duties are discriminatory.

The tariffs have also provoked political tension, including retaliation from China, which responded to Trump's move with tariffs on US goods and an anti-monopoly probe of Google, among other measures. The speed with which China filed its complaint with the WTO is an indication of Beijing's readiness for the trade fight.