China both hopeful and on edge over Trump's return

When Donald Trump was last president, he heaped tariffs on more than $300 billion of Chinese imports

- Reuters

Chinese officials and ordinary people are hopeful but on edge as Donald Trump returns to the White House, eager to avoid a repeat of the bruising trade war that drove a wedge between the economic superpowers during his first term.

Chinese vice president Han Zheng, in meetings with Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk and other members of the US business community in Washington ahead of Trump's inauguration, said he hoped US companies would "take root" in China and help to stabilise bilateral relations, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

When Trump was last president, he heaped tariffs on more than $300 billion of Chinese imports. In recent months, he has said he would add tariffs of at least 10% on top of what is already imposed on Chinese goods, a move that would hurt China at a time when its economy is struggling to find a firm footing.