America takes the path of weaponizing trade and the message conveyed is “suck it up”. China decides to enter the arena and go mano a mano and, well, you get Bessent playing the victim card. This isn’t at all the sort of America I grew up in Bessent tells the FT that China wants 'to pull everybody else down with them'

CNBC

Bessent tells the FT that struggling China wants 'to pull everybody else down with them'

Bessent accused China of trying to weaken the global economy by slapping export controls on resources vital for technology.