Part 3/13:
In response, the US administration threatened renewed tariffs, triggering a significant selloff on Wall Street. The Dow and S&P plunged, marking some of the worst days in recent months. Despite this, President Trump struck a more conciliatory tone on social media, suggesting that Beijing was having a "bad moment" and that Xi Jinping would prefer to avoid economic depression. This mixed messaging has left investors and allies uncertain about future negotiations, especially as Beijing accuses Washington of instigating the confrontation.