Editor’s note: On April 9th Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause “and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%” for most countries. At the same time, he announced that America’s tariff on Chinese imports would rise to 125%.

China is looking to mend a strained trading relationship with the European Union, the last open major market for its products, to weather a trade war with the United States. But diplomats and analysts say breaking a prolonged stalemate won't be easy.