Framing the US-China Trade Negotiations from the Perspective of Al Arabiya and CNBC Arabiya Media: Robert Etnman's Approach and 5W+H

Kafia Azzahro; Halimi Zuhdy

doi:10.55909/jpbs.v5i2.1042

Authors

Kafia Azzahro Prodi Bahasa dan Sastra Arab, UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, Jawa Timur, Indonesia
Halimi Zuhdy Prodi Bahasa dan Sastra Arab, UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, Jawa Timur, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55909/jpbs.v5i2.1042

Keywords:

framing, US-China trade negotiation, media

Abstract

This study aims to analyze how Al Arabiya and CNBC Arabiya frame news reports on the United States-China trade negotiations using Robert Entman’s framing theory. The research focuses on news published in May and October 2025, with the study context referring to trade meetings held in Geneva, Switzerland. The population of the study comprises all news reports related to the US-China trade negotiations in both media outlets, while the sample consists of two main articles directly reporting on the Geneva negotiation rounds. The research instrument includes a structured news analysis guide based on the 5W+1H framework and Entman’s four framing elements: Define Problems, Diagnose Causes, Make Moral Judgement, and Treatment Recommendation. Data were analyzed using a descriptive qualitative technique to identify issue selection, issue salience, and meaning construction within each media outlet. The findings show that Al Arabiya frames the negotiations from a bilateral and nationalistic standpoint, emphasizing political positioning and national interests. In contrast, CNBC Arabiya highlights the global economic implications of the trade war, stressing disruptions to supply chains, global market instability, and the involvement of third parties such as Switzerland and the WTO. These differences demonstrate that media framing significantly shapes public perceptions of international economic issues by selectively emphasizing certain facts and perspectives.

References

Alqodri, R. A., & Basid, A. (2024). Framing the News of Donald Trump Shooting ini Pennsylvnia on CNN and BBC Media. Jurnal Kata, 8(2), 367–381.

https://doi.org/10.22216/kata.v8i2.3169

Anggoro, A. D. (2014). Media, Politik, dan Kekuasaan (Analisis Framing Model

Robert N. Entman tentang Pemberitaan Hasil Pemilihan Presiden, 9 Juli 2014 di TV One dan Metro TV). Aristo, 2(2), 25– 52.

Beckmann, J., Czudaj, R. L., & Murach, M. (2024). Macroeconomic Effects from Media Coverage of the China–U.S Trade War on Selected EU Countries. European Journal of Political Economy, 85, 102611. https:// d o i . o r g / 1 0 . 1 0 1 6 / j.ejpoleco.2024.102611

CNBC Arabia. (2025). To Calm the Trade War America and China Conclude First Round of Talks in Geneva. CNBC Arabia. Https://www.cnbcarabia.com/137768/ 2025/10/05/

Entman, R. M. (2003). Projections of Power Framing News, Public Opinion, and U.S. Foreign Policy. University of Chicago Press. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/ 9780226210735.001.0001

Eriyanto. (2012). Analisis Framing: Konstruksi, Ideologi, dan Politik Media (N. Huda SA (ed.). LKIS Printing Cemerlang. https:/

/ b o o k s . g o o g l e . c o . i d /

Fajgelbaum, P. D., & Khandelwal, A. K. (2022). The Economic Impacts of the US-China

Trade War. Annual Review of Economics, 14, 205–228. https://doi.org/10.1146/ annurev-economics-051420-110410

Farge, E., & Revill, J. (2025). US, China Hail “Constructive” Geneva Trade Talks, Details Due Monday. Reuters. https:// www.reuters.com/world/china/us-china- talks-defuse-trade-row-resume-geneva- 2025-05-11/

Ha, L., Yang, Y., Ray, R., Matanji, F., Chen, P., Guo, K., & Lyu, N. (2021). How us and Chinese Media Cover the US–China Trade Conflict: A Case Study of War and Peace Journalism Practice and the Foreign Policy Equilibrium Hypothesis. Negotiation and Conflict Management Research, 14(3), 131–152. https:// doi.org/10.1111/ncmr.12186

Hafidli, M. N., Nur, R., Lestari Sasmita, D., Nurazhari, L., Rahisa, N., & Putri, G. (2023). Analisis Framing Model Robert Entman Tentang Kasus Kanjuruhan Di Detikcom Dan Bbc News. JIS: Jurnal Ilmu Sosial, 3(1), 2548–4893.

Hendrawan, M., & Cindoswari, A. R. (2024). Konstruksi Makna Pesan pada Pemberitaan Jokowi Resmi Menjadi Pemilih Pemilu 2024 Pada Media CNN Indonesia dan Liputan6.Com. Jurnal Ilmiah Mahasiswa, 2(1), 1–9.

Indiarti, I., Juanda, J., & Mahmudah, M. (2025). Pemberitaan Fasilitas Kampus dalam Media Daring Estetika Pendahuluan. 5(1), 428–441.

Kaelan. (2012). Metode Penelitian Kualitatif Interdisipliner Bidang Sosial, Budaya, Filsafat,Seni, Agama dan Humaniora. Yogyakarta: Paradigma.

Liu, S., Boukes, M., & De Swert, K. (2023a). Strategy Framing in the International Arena: A Cross-National Comparative Content Analysis on the China-US Trade Conflict Coverage. Journalism, 24(5), 976–998. https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849211052438

Martha, J., Harsawaskita, A., Syawfi, I., & Margono, V. T. (2022). Analisis Framing: Pemberitaan Media Massa Mengenai Kebijakan Luar Negeri Indonesia dalam Menanggapi Rivalitas Amerika Serikat dan China (2019-2022). Jurnal Dinamika Global, 7(02), 245–270. https://doi.org/10.36859/jdg.v7i02.1070

Marwanti, S., Irianto, H., & Suharjon, S. (2017). The Effects of Export, Import, and Investment on the Growth of the Indonesian Agricultural Sector. Jurnal Agro Ekonomi, 35(1), 49–65.

Matingwina, S. (2020). Media as a Front in the US-China Trade War: A Transnational Comparative Framing Analysis of US and Chinese Newspapers. American Communication Journal, 22(2), 1–10.

Nuri Aslami, N. S. A. (2022). Analisis Kebijakan Perdagangan Internasional. Journal Economy and Currency Study (JECS), 4(1), 14–23. https://doi.org/10.51178/ jecs.v4i1.358

Pangestu, O., & Shabana, A. (2024). Analisis Framing Robert N. Entman Pemberitaan Pondok Pesantren Al-Zaytun di Media Online Kompas.com. Agustus, 1(3), 75–89. h t t p s : / / d o i . o r g / 1 0 . 6 2 3 8 3 / filosofi.v1i3.152

Saputra, S. A., & Surur, M. (2025). The Framing Power In CNN And Al-Jazeera’s U.S. - China Trade Coverage: Robert Entman’s Framing Framework: Jurnal Pembelajaran Bahasa dan Sastra, 4(5), 1281–1298. https://doi.org/10.55909/jpbs.v4i5.927

Sari, R., Ismira, A., & Khaldun, R. I. (2023). Retaliasi China terhadap Amerika Serikat dalam Konteks Perang Dagang. Hasanuddin Journal of International Affairs, 3(2).

Shori, A. A. A., Jambak, M. R., Khonsa, N. N., & Wargadinata, W. (2024). Framing Analysis of the News Coverage of Presidential Candidate 01 in 2024: A Comparative Study of KBANEWS AND TIRTO.ID. Jurnal Kata: Penelitian tentang Ilmu Bahasa dan Sastra. https://doi.org/10.22216/ kata.v8i1.2910

Tayyibi, F. (2025). Informal Trade Talks Between the US and China Begin in Switzerland.

C.C.E.S.R. https://ccsr-eg.net/news/ news.

Widyaya, I., & Setiawan, W. (2023). Analisis Framing Model Robert N. Entman dalam Representasi Publik Figur Politik: Episode “Dosa-Dosa Anies” di Program “Kick Andy” Metro TV. Sibatik Journal, 3(1), 103–118. https://publish.ojs- indonesia.com/index.php/SIBATIK