The news: Walmart joined China’s ecommerce giants in offering to help the country’s export-oriented manufacturers pivot to the domestic market, per Bloomberg. The new program will enable suppliers to sell their products in Walmart’s over 330 supermarkets.

Sticking to the party line: Walmart’s statement of support for Chinese manufacturers is somewhat ironic since the retailer has been pushing the very same suppliers for cost concessions to mitigate the impact of tariffs. That antagonistic stance earned the company a public dressing-down from Beijing—which is likely influencing its desire to now play nice with authorities by aiding their tariff response plan.

It also reflects the tightrope that US companies must walk in China as they try to avoid falling afoul of anti-American sentiment and earning the ire of government authorities.