Why is Trump threatening allies with high tariffs but is soft on China? One possibility, suggested by the economist Paul

Krugman, is that these tariffs are not in the national interest but in rhe personal interests of the people calling the shots. Let’s not forget, Elon Musk has broad business interests in China and therefore an incentive not to jeopardize relationships with china’s leaders. Though there is no direct evidence, this explanation for these counter intuitive tariffs is plausible.