Countries must work together to take on big tech

US President Donald Trump's incoherent, confrontational approach toward China could seriously damage America’s long-term interests.

In the heat of the 2016 election campaign, the then Republican candidate Donald Trump summed up his unvarnished political credo: “If somebody hits me, I have to hit them back. I have to.” Subtle, no; unmistakably clear, yes.

The urge to retaliate is core to the US president’s fiery political personality. When it comes to trade, countries across the world have learned that he has no qualms about reaching for the most drastic ...