China’s political system is fundamentally incompatible with the mainstream of the existing international order, leaving it two choices as it considers how to fend off Trump’s onslaught.

Many analyses of the most recent American tariffs discuss the impact on China or China-US relations. But none discuss the reverse: how will such tariffs impact the US? What will the result of this impact mean on the future of American global leadership?

Drawing upon the past 70 years of Chinese global engagement, Vice-Minister He shines light on how multilateralism has benefited the Chinese nation as well as how China has played an important role — and can continue to play such a role — in the success of this ideology across the world. With the chaos brought by the new US regime and the rise of global populism, He emphasizes the need for China as an emerging power to support and help maintain multilateralism domestically and internationally.

Multilateralism is currently facing its greatest downturn since the Great Depression, but the G20 may be best positioned to keep the liberal international order afloat. All eyes will be on President Trump and President Xi at the G20 Summit as the two leaders attempt to bring their escalating trade war to an end.

The Trump administration’s “America First” style of unilateralism has alienated even longtime European allies. The leaders of France, Germany, the EU Commission, and China have all pledged themselves to support multilateralism — in a sign of the times, Trump’s America is left out in the cold.