Chinese President Xi Jinping called on global business leaders to push back against protectionism, seeking to take advantage of growing backlash to rising US tariffs to promote his country as a reliable partner.

Merchants purchase goods at China Yiwu International Trade City, in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, on Feb. 9, 2025. Editor at Large Christmas comes early to Yiwu, a bustling entrepôt just a couple hours by train from China’s coastal megacity of Shanghai.

Beijing has made headway in curbing reliance on American pork and creating an imbalance that works in its favor.