The Trump administration is preparing to escalate its trade war strategy by pressuring U.S. allies to sever economic ties with China, using ongoing trade negotiations with more than 70 countries to isolate Beijing on the global stage.

Rather than relying solely on direct tariffs, the new approach seeks to disrupt China’s trade routes, industrial growth, and ability to export surplus goods by securing commitments from U.S. partners.

According to The Wall Street Journal, American officials are pushing foreign governments to agree to block Chinese goods from passing through their borders, prevent Chinese firms from building factories that could sidestep U.S. tariffs, and limit the use of Chinese industrial products in their domestic supply chains.

The plan marks a significant escalation in the administration’s broader effort to decouple from the Chinese economy.

While U.S.-China tensions over trade, intellectual property, and national security have simmered for years, President Donald Trump’s latest strategy aims to force other nations to choose between aligning with the United States or maintaining access to China’s market.

The strategy aims to undermine China’s economic position ahead of any potential negotiations between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. U.S. officials believe that if China’s export-driven economy faces global constraints—not just U.S. tariffs—it will reduce Beijing’s leverage at the bargaining table, the WSJ reported.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has emerged as a central architect of the Trump administration’s new trade strategy, particularly in its efforts to intensify pressure on China.

Since President Trump announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for most countries—excluding China—on April 9, Bessent has taken a leading role in trade negotiations. Sources familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal that Bessent introduced the plan during an April 6 meeting at Mar-a-Lago.

The proposal’s core objective: leverage trade talks with allied nations to secure commitments that would make it more difficult for China and its companies to circumvent U.S. tariffs and economic restrictions.

Bessent has recognized that there is still a possibility for a trade agreement between the U.S. and China; however, any discussions would require direct involvement from both Trump and Xi, the WSJ noted.