When, in September 2009, America handed them a free pass to the moral high ground by imposing tariffs on tyre imports, they risked worsening the damage with a threat of retaliation.

• 2009年9月，美国提高轮胎进口关税，“慷慨”助中国登道德制高点一臂之力，中国却扬言报复，险些让局面进一步恶化。