US and China mirror tariff moves, sparking memes, mockery
The ongoing trade rivalry between the United States and China is now turning into something else—memes and jokes on the internet. Both nations are trying to copy each other’s economic moves, and the internet has taken notice.
US President Donald Trump recently rolled out a program to revive US manufacturing. He said he wanted American factories to return home because other nations, particularly China, were stealing jobs and hurting the American dream.
Trump announced high tariffs on imports as “Liberation Day.” He had expressed that these tariffs would make companies manufacture products in the US once again. But then it suddenly changed. One day after his new tariffs were implemented, he postponed them for 90 days.
Meanwhile, he also increased tariffs on Chinese products to 125%, a rise from 104%.
China didn’t hesitate to counter it. The government of China placed an 84% tariff on products from the United States.
FROM TRADE WAR TO MEME WAR
As these economic developments took place, social media went wild with humor. A viral AI-generated clip depicted Americans working in garment factories—something not typical in the US for decades.
Some teased that the US was becoming China by reversing the factories, while others mocked the increasing tariffs and how quickly they were evolving. Here’s how the internet responds:
