Dhaka, April 11 -- As President Donald Trump ramps up his trade war with China, he is also straining ties with traditional U.S. allies who might have otherwise bolstered America's position in the standoff between the world's two largest economies.

For years, American policymakers-including Trump-have sought to shift U.S. economic and strategic focus toward countering China's growing global influence. However, nearly three months into his second term, Trump's "America First" tariffs and budget reductions may be creating a major opening for Beijing to sidestep U.S. pressure.

This week, Trump intensified his trade offensive by raising tariffs on Chinese imports to an extraordinary 145%. At the same time, he temporarily halted tariffs on ot...