For the past few weeks all eyes have been fixed on the FIFA World Cup and the on-pitch conflicts between major nations in Russia. The world's two largest economies, China and the United States, have been notable by their absence from the competition: They are instead involved in a conflict of an altogether different kind.

After U.S. President Donald Trump fired the first shot of the trade war on July 6 by imposing 25-percent tariffs on Chinese goods worth $34 billion, China was forced into retaliation. But China isn’t Trump’s only target.

The U.S. president has taken his game on the road, taking aim at Canada, Mexico and even the European Union—once its closest partner—with the list likely to keep growing.

But what is Trump trying to achieve?

Maybe he has a secret game plan up his sleeve after doing away with several multilateral trade arrangements including those of TPP, NAFTA and the WTO?

Comments to liuyunyun@bjreview.com