China Uses AI Videos to Critique Trump’s New Tariffs with Music, Sci-Fi and Diplomacy
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On April 2, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump introduced new tariffs, including a 34% levy on Chinese imports, prompting a response from China. In addition to diplomatic measures, Chinese state media have utilized artificial intelligence to produce videos that highlight the potential economic effects of these tariffs. This approach reflects a shift in how nations communicate during trade disputes, using technology to convey messages to global audiences.
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CGTN’s AI-Generated Music Video
On April 3, the China Global Television Network (CGTN) published a 2-minute, 42-second music video titled “Look What You Taxed Us Through (An AI-Generated Song. A Life-Choking Reality)”. The video features an AI-generated female voice singing lyrics that address the tariffs from the perspective of American consumers. Lyrics such as “Groceries cost a kidney, gas a lung” and “Tariffs killed our cheap Chinese cars” aim to depict rising costs for everyday goods. Presented in English and Chinese, the lyrics accompany visuals of economic hardship. CGTN’s accompanying statement suggests that Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs could lead to “shrinking paychecks and rising costs”, particularly for low-income households. The video concludes with quotes from the Yale Budget Lab and The Economist questioning the tariffs’ impact. By labelling the content as AI-generated, CGTN maintains transparency while using technology to share its perspective.
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New China TV’s Sci-Fi Short Film
Also on April 3, New China TV, an arm of China’s Xinhua news agency, released a 3-minute, 18-second AI-generated sci-fi film titled “T.A.R.I.F.F.” The film centers on a robot named Technical Artificial Robot for International Fiscal Functions, activated by a U.S. official named Dr. Mallory. The robot’s purpose is to impose tariffs to “protect the interests of the American people”. Initially, T.A.R.I.F.F. applies moderate tariffs, noting positive outcomes like increased industrial production. However, when directed to escalate to aggressive tariffs, it observes negative effects: rising unemployment, higher living costs, and disrupted trade. The robot eventually recognizes the harm caused, stating, “I have become the beginning of a chain reaction that will harm the very people I was meant to safeguard”, and chooses to self-destruct, along with Dr. Mallory. Described as an “AI-generated content sci-fi thriller” about the “weaponization of tariffs”, the film uses narrative to caution against economic consequences. This approach illustrates how AI can engage audiences through storytelling.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ AI-Inclusive Video
On the same day, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a social media video blending AI-generated and real images, set to John Lennon’s “Imagine” and USA for Africa’s “We Are the World”. The video contrasts an “imperfect world” with issues like “greed” and “tariffs” against a vision of “shared prosperity” and “global solidarity”. While less direct than the media outlets’ content, it employs AI to craft an aspirational message, indirectly framing tariffs as obstacles to cooperation. This use of AI highlights its ability to blend idealism with political messaging.
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Economic Background and Expert Insights
The tariffs, described as “reciprocal”, add a 34% rate to an existing 20% levy, totaling 54% on Chinese imports. Experts note that such import taxes could increase prices for American consumers, with low-income families likely to face the greatest impact. Following the tariff announcement, U.S. recession indicators have risen, and global markets have experienced volatility not seen since the pandemic. China has countered with its own 34% tariffs on U.S. goods, reinforcing its “tit-for-tat” approach. Beijing has indicated it will continue this strategy as long as the trade conflict persists, with officials stating readiness to “fight until the end”. The AI-generated media efforts complement these economic responses, serving as a public critique aligned with China’s broader position.
AI’s Role in Public Communication
China’s use of AI-generated content marks a development in how nations address international disputes. Through music videos, films, and social media posts, state media employ AI to create accessible content quickly, aiming to connect with domestic and global viewers. These videos frame tariffs as detrimental to ordinary people, using emotional narratives to convey economic concerns. Labelling the content as AI-generated helps maintain transparency, distinguishing it from potential misinformation. However, the storytelling approach may simplify complex economic dynamics, which could influence public perceptions. This trend raises questions about how AI will shape communication strategies in future global dialogues.
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Is it Misleading?
Chinese state media’s use of AI to address U.S. tariffs involves music videos, sci-fi films, and social media content to highlight potential economic challenges. Through CGTN, New China TV, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China employs technology to question tariffs and advocate for cooperation. As the U.S.-China trade dispute continues, these AI-driven efforts illustrate how nations are adapting public messaging. For the public, this situation shows the link between trade policies and daily life, with AI shaping the narratives we encounter. Ironically, much like Hong Kong’s Sectreary for Health, Chung-mau Lo, who recently dismissed fears that higher public hospital costs would inflate private clinic bills as “misleading”, China’s AI videos paint a vivid picture of tariff-driven price hikes—both insisting complex economic ripples are simpler than they seem.
