This Wall Street Journal editorial correctly chides leaders for failing to stand up to protectionists.  Everyone knows China’s 36 per cent duty on Nylon is the latest instalment of a tit-for-tat trade barrier dispute with President Obama - even though some other countries are being targeted.

Trade barriers have always been self-harm but in an age of internationalised production and supply chains, they are particularly pointless.  Nylon, like many other goods and services, is a globally traded and manufactured product.  This is evidenced by the fact that US companies based in other countries will be harmed by the tariff, which illustrates how trade barriers aimed at one country hurt people in many others.  This tit-for-tat leaves many Chinese producers and consumers – in addition to producers and consumers all around the world – worse off. 

Trade didn’t cause the recession, but it certainly the best way out of it.  The absence of U.S. leadership on trade paves the way for others to fill the much needed void.  By upping the ante in their dispute with Washington, the Chinese are wasting a great opportunity to do what is in their own self-interest.