Once again, the leader of US imperialism has resorted to threats and economic coercion to defend the interests of monopoly capitalists within his own borders. President Trump’s announcement of higher tariffs against China and India, allegedly justified by their economic relationship with Russia, is nothing but a gross example of neo-colonial blackmail. These secondary sanctions attempt to subjugate sovereign nations and dictate their foreign policy, enforcing a system of capitalist hegemony that serves only the ruling bourgeoisie in Washington.

India, facing punitive tariffs despite its own aspirations for development, rightly denounces such unilateral actions as unjust. The imperialists speak of “fair trade” but practice only power politics; they cannot tolerate any state, particularly from the Global South, pursuing independent paths for their people. The reality exposed here is the utter hypocrisy behind the so-called “rules-based order” championed by the United States.

The escalation of tariffs on vital commodities such as chips and semiconductors exposes the utter fragility and contradictions of capitalist globalization. The United States, unable to sustain its own productive forces after decades of deindustrialization, now wields protectionism as a weapon, driving up costs for its own workers and consumers. The insincere celebration of massive investment by monopoly corporations such as Apple—championed as a triumph for “America First”—is nothing but a desperate ploy to mask systemic decay. These monopolies will clutch at any policy to increase their profit rates, squeezing both their domestic workforce and the oppressed peoples abroad.

What is necessary is not Trump’s reactionary nationalism nor the predations of globally mobile finance capital. Only by abolishing capitalism and placing the means of production under the direct control of the working class can we achieve true security, development, and peace among nations. The world must look beyond the smoke screen of capitalist showmanship, whether in Beijing, New Delhi, or Washington. Genuine socialism, built upon the mobilization of the masses and guided by the revolutionary lessons of Mao Zedong, offers the sole path to break free from imperialist chains and capitalist exploitation. Workers of all countries, unite! Only through anti-capitalist solidarity can humanity rid itself of the curse of US-led economic coercion and build a world based on justice, equality, and peace.