{Editor’s Note: Xinhua News Agency, the official state news agency of the People’s Republic of China, recently published an article criticizing U.S. President Trump’s foreign policy. The article quoted several Western media reports, characterizing Trump’s approach to foreign policy as “transactional diplomacy” and saying that it is ineffective and troublesome. The following are key excerpts from the article {1}.}
Everything Can Be Traded
“Transactional foreign diplomacy” has become a frequently used term in U.S. media to describe the foreign policy of the Trump administration. An article published on The National Interest stated that the essence of Trump’s foreign policy is “purely transactional.” “From the threat of imposing tariffs to focusing on acquiring resources and real estate, the strategy is as assertive as it is all-encompassing, applying to allies and adversaries alike.” {2}
Sina Toossi, a fellow at the U.S. think tank Center for International Policy, told AFP: “He approaches diplomacy the way he approached real estate in ‘The Art of the Deal:’ – escalate tensions, maximize threats, push the situation to the brink of disaster and then, at the last minute, strike a deal.”
“Transactional Foreign Policy” Hits a Deadlock
How Effective Is the “Transactional Diplomacy”? Let the Facts Speak for Themselves.
- U.S.-Russia-Ukraine Divisions Deepen
Following Trump’s calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 18 and 19, U.S. media reported that Russia effectively rejected the U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire plan for the Russia-Ukraine war. The Washington Post noted that the conversation between the U.S. and Russian leaders highlighted more divisions than agreements. At the same time, Ukraine was dissatisfied with the proposed 30-day halt on attacks against each other’s energy infrastructure, insisting that the ceasefire should also cover other civilian infrastructure. Zelensky further emphasized that Ukraine had no intention of handing over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which the Trump administration had reportedly shown interest in. - War Reignites in Gaza and Yemen
Trump once claimed he would “bring peace to the Middle East,” but his coercive approach to diplomacy failed to secure deals, leading to renewed conflict. After “full coordination” with the U.S., Israel resumed large-scale airstrikes on Gaza on March 18, effectively collapsing the ceasefire agreement. Meanwhile, on March 15, U.S. forces launched a large-scale military operation against Yemen’s Houthi rebels. In retaliation, the Houthis claimed to have repeatedly attacked U.S. aircraft carriers. - Multiple Countries Retaliate Against U.S. Tariff Hikes
After the Trump administration initiated a “tariff war”, many countries responded with countermeasures. On March 12, the Canadian government announced 25 percent retaliatory tariffs on Canadian$ 29.8 billion (US$ 20.5 billion) worth of U.S. goods. The European Commission also announced on the same day that the EU would impose retaliatory tariffs on €26 billion (about US$ 28.3 billion) worth of American products. The website of The Economist criticized the U.S. tariffs as “an act of self-harm.” {3} - Anti-American Sentiment Surges in Greenland
In response to Trump’s “island-grabbing” remarks, a large-scale anti-U.S. protest took place in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, on March 15, with thousands of demonstrators marching to the U.S. Consulate. Officials from Denmark and the European Union also voiced support for Greenland, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stating that the EU supports Denmark in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity, including Greenland.
At his January 20 inauguration, Trump declared: “My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier.” However, just two months later, a March 20 editorial in Yomiuri Shimbun concluded:
“Another major offensive has begun in the Middle East, and Russia declined to endorse a full ceasefire in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump’s diplomacy based on deals has apparently stalled.” {4}
CNN similarly remarked that the Trump administration has found ending wars in Ukraine and Gaza far more challenging than it appeared.
Meanwhile, Agence France-Presse reported: “Trump vowed to bring peace, but in the midst of war, he faces a brutal reality.”
“It Will Only Make the World More Dangerous”
Toossi commented that for the Trump administration, “For Trump, foreign policy isn’t about carefully negotiated peace deals. It’s about performance, leverage and crafting a narrative that sells.”
Analysts point out that Trump’s ability to manufacture bargaining chips out of thin air and force concessions through coercion and inducements relies on U.S. military and economic power. However, the essence of his “transactional foreign diplomacy” is nothing more than coercion-based diplomacy, designed solely to serve U.S. self-interest. Rather than addressing issues at their root, Trump forces other parties to accept terms dictated by the U.S., ignoring their concerns. Even if such diplomacy results in temporary “deals,” its sustainability is highly questionable.
A recent article in The Economist summed it up bluntly:
“Team Trump claims that its dealmaking will bring peace and that, after 80 years of being taken for a ride, America will turn its superpower status into profit,” said The Economist in an article.
“Instead it will make the world more dangerous, and America weaker and poorer,” the article added. {5}
Endnotes:
{1} Xinhua, “The Trump Administration’s ‘Transactional Foreign Diplomacy’ Hits a Deadlock,” March 22, 2025.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/world/20250322/9f5de693df654e3081191e1b5ebf205f/c.html
{2} National Interest, “Trump’s Foreign Policy: Purely Transactional,” March 4, 2025.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/trumps-foreign-policy-purely-transactional
{3} The Economist, “Donald Trump’s Super Bowl tariffs are an act of self-harm,” February 10, 2025.
https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/02/10/donald-trumps-super-bowl-tariffs-are-an-act-of-self-harm
{4} Yomiuri Shimbun, “2 Ceasefire Proposals Pushed for by U.S.: Can Trump’s Diplomacy Bring Breakthroughs?” March 20, 2025.
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20250320-244320/
{5} The Economist, “Donald Trump has begun a mafia-like struggle for global power,” February 27, 2025.
https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/02/27/donald-trump-has-begun-a-mafia-like-struggle-for-global-power