The Alternative Theory on Tariffs That's All About Boxing Out China
President Donald Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs, which imposed levies even on obscure and remote territories like the Heard and McDonald Islands and its population of penguins — were not designed for economic precision. Instead, some experts argue, they are meant to block every conceivable route for Chinese goods to reach the United States—boxing China […]
President Donald Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs, which imposed levies even on obscure and remote territories like the Heard and McDonald Islands and its population of penguins — were not designed for economic precision.
Instead, some experts argue, they are meant to block every conceivable route for Chinese goods to reach the United States—boxing China out of the global supply chain and reordering the world’s trading system.
“The formula has been widely mocked, but that misses the point,” trade expert Henry Gao, professor at Singapore Management University, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “The numbers aren’t meant to hold up in a PhD defense—they’re meant to shock, to create leverage. The more extreme the figure, the stronger the incentive for other countries to come to the negotiating table with the U.S.”
In a series of posts, Gao described the strategy as “intentionally chaotic,” but with a focused aim: isolating China by any means necessary, even if it causes friction with long-standing U.S. trade partners. “All countries have become collateral damage in the U.S.-China economic standoff,” he said.
That theory, while not explicitly backed by the White House, was eluded by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick during a bombastic appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday, where he defended the tariffs that have dragged U.S. stocks lower, marking one of the most volatile weeks for Wall Street in recent memory.
“What China started doing was they started going through other countries to America,” Lutnick told CBS’s Margaret Brennan. “So basically he [Trump] said, look, I can’t let any part of the world be a place where China or other countries can ship through them… He’s going to fix that.”
A Global Tariff Net Aimed at One Target?
While the list of “reciprocal” tariffs may seem scattershot—targeting American allies and critical trading partners in Europe and Asia—some analysts have warmed to the theory that the president’s underlying goal is to close every possible backdoor China could use to preserve its export dominance.
That logic helps explain why the administration included countries like Cambodia and Vietnam in its latest round of tariffs—nations often viewed as extensions of China’s supply chain. For its part, Vietnam was among the first nations to respond to the tariffs by dropping its export duties for the U.S. to zero. It’s not yet clear if that is enough to placate the White House.
Todd Belt, director of the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University, said the goal of isolating China may not have been fully intentional at first, but it has become central to the story.
President Donald Trump holds his tariff chart in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump holds his tariff chart in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
“Trump’s tariffs weren’t originally designed with this complexity in mind,” Belt told Newsweek. “But the Chinese government understands the dynamic well. We can already see them responding by trying to build new markets for component parts.”
This aligns with Beijing’s escalating posture in the face of a cascade of new tariffs, the latest of which the White House said would go into effect as scheduled at midnight Wednesday.
“[Chinese President] Xi has built up an image of himself as a defiant strongman helming a powerful country,” Julian Gewirtz, a former White House China adviser, told The New York Times. “China’s official messaging is conveying that they are determined to stand up to U.S. pressure even at high costs.”
The Chinese foreign ministry has called the tariffs “economic bullying” and vowed to “fight to the end,” and Beijing responded to last week’s round of “reciprocal” tariffs with its own 34 hike in tariffs on U.S. goods.
US Companies Already Making Moves
As the tariffs took effect, tech giant Apple was said to be ramping up its production in India, shifting supply lines that once ran directly through China, in a bid to escape the harsh Chinese tariffs. The same day it was reported Apple flew planes full of iPhones from New Delhi, the Wall Street Journal reported that the company is planning to produce up to 25 million iPhones in India this year, potentially covering half of its U.S. market demand.
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 29, 2019. U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 29, 2019. Susan Walsh/AP Photo
The move may be as much about evading Chinese tariffs as it is about strategic realignment. Apple faced a 54 percent levy on Chinese-manufactured goods under the new policy, compared to a more manageable 26 percent on Indian exports. The shift from Apple had a secondary, perhaps psychological, effect: denting China’s ability to produce the most popular consumer product in the world, and shifting that production to its biggest rival in the East.
Bloomberg reported Monday that Apple stocked up on inventory ahead of the tariffs as part of its efforts to prepare for their arrival, which should delay the impact of the tariffs on Apple’s bottom line at least into the next quarter. In the meantime, the company has also sought exemptions from the new tariffs, repeating a strategy that worked during Trump’s first term.
If the “isolate China at all costs” theory is correct, it would amount to one of the riskier bets Trump has ever taken, with profound opportunities for collateral damage to U.S. relationships as well as the domestic economy, which was the beneficiary of $440 billion in Chinese imports last year.
Joseph Foudy, professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business, questioned the coherence of the strategy. “We’re essentially picking fights with every major country in the world,” Foudy said. “Even if we end up cutting deals, the level of acrimony and the signal that the U.S. is no longer a reliable long-term partner weakens our position.”
Foudy argued the administration could have crafted a more targeted approach if its goal was to target Beijing—starting with tariffs solely on China, then expanding only if it was detected that China was flouting the tariffs by rerouting exports through non-tariffed countries or territories.
Pedestrian are reflected on a brokerage house’s window as an electronic board displays shares trading index, in Beijing, Monday, April 7, 2025. Pedestrian are reflected on a brokerage house’s window as an electronic board displays shares trading index, in Beijing, Monday, April 7, 2025. AP Photo/Andy Wong
“But instead, we’re imposing tariffs on countries like Australia, which actually has a trade surplus with the U.S. That raises doubts about whether this is really a focused strategy—or just a repackaging of a broader tariff policy after the fact.”
Gordon G. Chang, an American lawyer known for his influential writings on China, wrote in a Newsweek opinion piece this week that China’s economy is more precarious than advertised, and that Beijing enters into this trade war in a weakened position.
“Trump holds all the high cards,” Chang wrote. “Xi, in short, has placed the fate of the Chinese economy in the hands of the leader of that irreplaceable export market, the American one.” He added that “there are winners in trade wars. In this particular trade war, the winner will not be China.”
Trump, who famously sees himself as a dealmaker above all else, may be expecting China to come to the table in the end. “I don’t think he’s bluffing either,” said Belt. “He’s willing to put the U.S. through some short-term pain to get what he sees as a deal that benefits the country and reflects well on him.”
A Diving Accident Paralyzed A Teen Water Polo Player Star. Now He’s On A Journey Back To The Water
LONG BEACH, CA — The first words Jackie Apuzzo heard from her son’s mouth at the hospital were “I’m sorry, mom.” Alessandro Loria Apuzzo, 14, had been at the Long Beach peninsula just a few hours earlier, Jackie said. It was the Fourth of July, and Apuzzo, an elite water polo player, was inside the […]
LONG BEACH, CA — The first words Jackie Apuzzo heard from her son’s mouth at the hospital were “I’m sorry, mom.”
Alessandro Loria Apuzzo, 14, had been at the Long Beach peninsula just a few hours earlier, Jackie said.
It was the Fourth of July, and Apuzzo, an elite water polo player, was inside the water with some friends. At some point, he dove into what he thought was a drop-off, according to his mother.
Find out what’s happening in Long Beachfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
That’s when the teen struck his head against the ocean floor. He floated back up to the water face down and unable to move. His friends thought he was playing a joke on them. But soon, they realized Apuzzo was really hurt and got him out.
“We were so fortunate that there were kids around him,” Jackie told Patch. “If it wasn’t for his friends and the fast response from the lifeguards, he would’ve drowned.”
Find out what’s happening in Long Beachfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Apuzzo was taken to Long Beach Memorial Hospital, where, for hours, doctors ran tests and X-rays on him in the emergency room trauma unit, Jackie said. In the end, they found he had fractured his spine in three places.
The diving accident left Apuzzo with limited mobility, and he is currently bedbound, according to his mother. He can move his upper body, but he has no finger strength or grip. He has movement in his right leg only and can’t walk.
Alessandro Loria Apuzzo fractured his spine during a diving accident in Long Beach on the Fourth of July. (Photo courtesy of Jackie Apuzzo)
“Everyone’s saying because of his age, because of his physical condition going into this, he has a strong chance of recovery,” Jackie said. It’s just a matter of time of letting the spinal chord recover.”
The 14-year-old is a star water polo player and was one of four eighth graders last year to be accepted into the 6-8 water polo academy. At the academy, he was competing at a national level, often against kids older than him, his mother said.
He was getting ready to start his freshman year at Wilson High School and had been training with the water polo team before the accident.
Still, Jackie said, Apuzzo is more determined than ever to make a full recovery and one day return to playing the sport he loves.
“He is a warrior,” Jackie said. “He’s got the most positive attitude — friendly, great sense of humor, very positive. He’s pushing himself to do his best.”
Alessandro Loria Apuzzo (left) was getting ready to attend Wilson High School and play on the water polo team. (Photo courtesy of Jackie Apuzzo)
He’s currently hospitalized at Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Long Beach, where he goes through rehab exercises every day, including stretching and electrical muscle stimulation in his forearms.
It’s not yet clear how long the recovery process will last or if Apuzzo will regain full mobility, but Jackie remains hopeful. The next several months will include intensive physical therapy for Apuzzo.
Luckily, Jackie said, her son has received a lot of care and support from friends and hospital staff, who have been motivating him each day to keep pushing and getting stronger.
In the end, she just wants to see her son walk again and enjoy all the activities he was fond of, including fishing and surfing, Jackie said.
“It’s really tough,” Jackie said. “But I think he’s tougher.”
A fundraiser has been started to help Apuzzo’s family give him the support he needs on his recovery journey. So far, it has raised 12,107 out of its $18,000 goal. To donate, click here. Follow Apuzzo’s recovery journey here.
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Texas Tech’s Olympic sports like soccer in good spot with department
Tom Stone previews Texas Tech soccer’s 2025 season Tom Stone previews Texas Tech soccer’s 2025 season President Donald Trump has turned his attention to the college sports world, mostly at the behest of notable names like former Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Texas Tech mega-booster Cody Campbell. Saban and Campbell were reportedly set to […]
Tom Stone previews Texas Tech soccer’s 2025 season
Tom Stone previews Texas Tech soccer’s 2025 season
President Donald Trump has turned his attention to the college sports world, mostly at the behest of notable names like former Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Texas Tech mega-booster Cody Campbell.
Saban and Campbell were reportedly set to co-chair Trump’s commission on college sports. While that commission seems to have fallen apart, Trump hasn’t given up on his attempts to “save” college athletics yet.
Late last week, Trump signed an executive order making sweeping recommendations for how the NCAA and its member institutions should do business in the House settlement era. While nothing has been settled, and everything is up for legal interpretation, the executive order, titled “President Donald J. Trump Saves College Sports,” is an attempt to put pressure on schools to keep a level playing field across all athletic programs.
Much of the order is directed at women’s and non-revenue sports, commonly referred to as Olympic sports, such as track and field, swimming, and even soccer. One bullet point of the release from The White House states, “The Order requires the preservation and, where possible, expansion of opportunities for scholarships and collegiate athletic competition in women’s and non-revenue sports.”
Campbell has been a notable voice in support of the executive order, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to share how he wants Olympic sports to be protected. One coach at Campbell’s alma mater, though, doesn’t think that’s a major cause for concern for the Red Raiders.
Texas Tech soccer coach Tom Stone said Monday he and his fellow non-revenue coaches have always known that football and men’s basketball hold the water for the athletic department, but noted the soccer program isn’t hurting for attention.
“They’re taking care of us,” Stone said of Tech director of athletics Kirby Hocutt and the department as a whole, “and their plans for us are way more than this season. They kind of have seen around the corner. They’ve got some forward-thinking people in that office. So no, we don’t worry.”
Stone noted the soccer program isn’t concerned whether Hocutt is able to attend every game and feels the team is well taken care of. Additionally, the involvement of coaches such as Joey McGuire and Grant McCasland throughout the entire athletic department — like their appearance in Oklahoma City for the softball team’s Women’s College World Series championship game — shows the dedication of Tech’s most notable faces to the greater good.
One aspect Stone sees as a positive for Texas Tech in this regard is the number of sports sponsored by the school. NCAA bylaws require teams to sponsor a minimum of six men’s teams and eight women’s teams to be considered an FBS-level school. Tech has seven men’s and eight women’s teams.
“I’d be worried if I had 34 sports,” Stone said. “That would concern me, and we know that there are particularly some phases that we’re all going to have to reexamine how we do things, but we’re ready for that. They’ve gotten out ahead of it, so we feel really good about our situation and lucky to be a Red Raider.”
North Texas volleyball club mourns loss of longtime coach, mentor to hundreds
On social media, volleyball clubs from across North Texas have shared their love, condolences, and memories of a man whose passion was infectious. PLANO, Texas — There’s a noticeable void inside the Madfrog Volleyball Club in Plano. The echoes of encouragement, laughter, and booming court-side energy are quieter now, because one of the loudest and […]
On social media, volleyball clubs from across North Texas have shared their love, condolences, and memories of a man whose passion was infectious.
PLANO, Texas — There’s a noticeable void inside the Madfrog Volleyball Club in Plano.
The echoes of encouragement, laughter, and booming court-side energy are quieter now, because one of the loudest and most loved voices is no longer there.
Pacifico Conanan, better known as Coach PC, passed away last Thursday after years of battling congestive heart failure. He was a coach at Madfrog for nearly twenty years and a mentor to hundreds of girls who came through the club.
“He’s just somebody that no one could ever replace,” said Meredith Ruder with Madfrog. “PC was an artist at his craft.”
He wasn’t just a coach; PC was a father to three daughters, a loving husband, and a mentor whose voice carried across gym walls and into the hearts of those who knew him.
“He could just get something out of these kids that I don’t think any of us can,” Ruder said.
Kennedy Cook, a player who was supposed to have Coach PC as her head coach this upcoming season, says his presence continues to motivate them.
“If he were here, we’d be working as hard as we possibly could, and we’re going to do that no matter what,” Cook said.
Remembering Volleyball Coach Pacifico Conanan
On social media, volleyball clubs from across North Texas have shared their love, condolences, and memories of a man whose passion was infectious.
“He was just intoxicating… in the best way,” said Ruder. “If he were ever in pain or suffering, you wouldn’t have known it.”
Coach PC’s legacy lives on through every player he mentored, every team he led, and every life he touched.
Even in his absence, his voice, his heart, and his energy continue to echo, not just in the gym, but in the players determined to carry forward the spirit he left behind.
There is a celebration of life planned for Coach PC this Friday at the Cottonwood Creek Church in Plano.
A GoFundMe was created to help cover medical bills, the memorial service, and set up a college tuition fund for his daughters.
Setting The Stage: A Look at the 2025 UC Davis Volleyball Setters
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DAVIS, Calif. – With just a month away from the start of competition, the UC Davis Volleyball setters are primed to make an impact for their team in 2025. As the team’s primary distributor, the setter plays a key role in the offense, setting up hitters for the attack while […]
DAVIS, Calif. – With just a month away from the start of competition, the UC Davis Volleyball setters are primed to make an impact for their team in 2025.
As the team’s primary distributor, the setter plays a key role in the offense, setting up hitters for the attack while acting as a leader on the court.
With two returners and one incoming freshman making up this season’s setters room, the Aggies are primed to build upon their historic 19-win season from a year ago.
Senior – Haden Bones
A senior out of Whittier, Calif., Bones enters year four coming off a junior season where she appeared in 25 matches with 13 service aces.
In the Aggies’ road matchup against UC Riverside last season, Bones produced her best performance in the blue and gold, compiling a career-high 28 assists in her team’s win over the Highlanders on Nov. 5.
Junior – Mia Starr
Tabbed as a Big West Honorable Mention a year ago, Starr has emerged as the team’s primary setter, starting in all 29 matches in 2024. With 1177 total assists and 9.89 assists per set, she led the team while also ranking third in the conference.
In addition to her duties as a setter, Starr has also become a reliable defender for the Aggies, compiling 60 blocks last year and 73 total blocks across her career. Now coming into her third season, she continues to elevate her game for UC Davis.
Freshman – Laela Burgess
Coming to Davis from San Luis Obispo, Laela brings a wealth of experience in both club and high school volleyball, being a three-year varsity starter with the San Luis Obispo Tigers, to go along with six seasons of club experience.
During her senior season in 2024, Laela was strong both on the offensive and defensive sides of the court, putting up 94 kills and 24 total blocks for the Tigers. During the 2023 Junior Volleyball Association West Coast Cup, an event featuring some of the top volleyball clubs from the West Coast, she helped lead her team to a first-place finish.
Track and Field Announces Hire of Tyler Sheehan as Sprints, Hurdles, Relays Coach
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MOSCOW, Idaho – The coaching staff for Idaho track and field continues to load up. On Monday, Tracy Hellman announced the latest addition to the staff in time for the 2025-26 season. Tyler Sheehan will arrive in Moscow to coach the Vandal sprinters, hurdlers, and relays. Sheehan comes to UI […]
MOSCOW, Idaho – The coaching staff for Idaho track and field continues to load up.
On Monday, Tracy Hellman announced the latest addition to the staff in time for the 2025-26 season. Tyler Sheehan will arrive in Moscow to coach the Vandal sprinters, hurdlers, and relays.
Sheehan comes to UI by way of Elmhurst University. With the Bluejays, he established himself as one of the top assistant coaches in the country, earning the DIII Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) in May. Prior to this, Elmhurst’s 4×100 relay team earned a runner-up finish and the school record in the DIII National Championships.
At the CCIW Championships, the Bluejays earned the first outdoor team title in program history, thanks in large part to Sheehan’s athletes, who earned 80 points and a 1-2-3 sweep in the 100m hurdles.
Before arriving at Elmhurst, Sheehan was an assistant coach at North Central College, developing the women’s track and field team to the tune of five national qualifiers, four All-Americans, and a national champion. As an assistant coach at St. Charles East high school in Chicago, he coached three state champions and thirteen all-state performers.
Hellman is excited to bring Sheehan to Moscow, knowing the pedigree of athletes he has developed in his career.
“We are very excited to announce Tyler Sheehan as our new assistant coach for sprints, hurdles and relays. As we strive to build a well rounded, successful program, we were looking for someone who has years of experience along with proven success developing sprinters and hurdlers at the NCAA level. We feel we have found that candidate in Tyler. He has improved every program he has been at, and as we enter a new chapter of excellence at U of Idaho track and field/cross country, he fits what are looking for. We have high goals with our sprint and hurdle crew. We are excited to welcome him to Moscow and U of Idaho.”
The hire is conditional on completion of University of Idaho human resources procedures.
FOLLOW THE VANDALS
To stay up to date with Idaho Track and Field, follow the team on Instagram (idahotrack) and visit govandals.com
College volleyball: Gabby Deery named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar | The Hawk Eye – Burlington, Iowa
IOWA CITY — Gabby Deery is coming off a sensational sophomore season for the University of Iowa volleyball team. Deery, a two-time Class 1A Player of the Year for Notre Dame High School, saw action in 24 matches, starting 12, and playing in 73 sets. Deery excelled not only on the court, but in the […]
IOWA CITY — Gabby Deery is coming off a sensational sophomore season for the University of Iowa volleyball team.
Deery, a two-time Class 1A Player of the Year for Notre Dame High School, saw action in 24 matches, starting 12, and playing in 73 sets.
Deery excelled not only on the court, but in the classroom.
Deery was one of 79 University of Iowa student-athletes named Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholars.
Deery, the daughter of Brad and Jeanne Deery, is one of just 24 who maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average during the 2024-25 academic term.
“I feel honored to be named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and I’m truly grateful to be recognized among so many dedicated student-athletes across the conference,” Deery said. “Balancing the demands of D1 volleyball with academics isn’t always easy. Between travel, training, and competition, there are long days and late nights. However, this award reminds me that the hard work in the classroom is just as important as what we do on the court.
Deer had 137 kills (1.88 per set), 35 digs, and 20 blocks last season. She recorded a career-best 20 kills and five digs at Maryland and had a season-high three blocks against both Drake and Oregon.
Deery was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree last fall.
Iowa opens the 2025-26 season Aug. 29 at UNLV.
The Hawkeyes’ annual Black and Gold scrimmage is scheduled for 5 p.m. Aug. 23 at Xtream Arena in Coralville.
Iowa opens the home slate at 6 p.m. Sept. 4 against Butler.