Former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler appeared exclusively on CNBC's Squawk Box to slam President Donald Trump's aggressive trade tactics toward China. Gensler, who called the administration's sweeping tariff policy “self-inflicted” wounds, warned that the confrontational approach could destabilize markets and harm long-term diplomatic efforts. Gensler’s comments come as Florida Senator Rick Scott is pushing the SEC to delist Chinese companies from U.S. exchanges, citing national security concerns. In his first public interview since leaving office, Gensler assessed the geopolitical and economic implications of escalating trade tensions and outlined his concerns about the current administration’s strategy. “To implement an all-encompassing strategy, to try to do it with 150 or 200 countries and to do it so aggressively and so convulsively all at once, is like scoring an own goal, is like injuring yourself,” Gensler said. Related News: What Percentage of Bitcoin (BTC) Addresses are in Loss, What Percentage are in Profit? Unprecedented Ratio Gensler said past negotiations with China, while difficult, have been successful because of consistency, respect and dedicated dialogue. Gensler, who led talks with Chinese financial regulators during his tenure, said inconsistency in U.S. policy has emboldened China to delay engagement, believing that time is simply on its side. The former SEC chairman also highlighted the broader market impact of Trump's policy uncertainty. “Real instability for businesses is impacting investment decisions,” Gensler said. “Companies are pulling back, and there is increasing instability in the equity and U.S. bond markets.” When asked about the effectiveness of building trade alliances to pressure China, Gensler acknowledged the importance of working with allies but questioned the feasibility of rapid, comprehensive global negotiations. “Trying to renegotiate with dozens of countries in 90 days is a tall order,” he said, adding: “In the meantime, China is watching closely.” In the wide-ranging interview, Gensler also briefly touched on the future of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. While he didn’t go into great detail, he acknowledged that both sectors will play an increasingly vital role in shaping the future of markets and regulation. *This is not investment advice. Continue Reading: Former SEC Chair Gary Gensler Speaks for the First Time After Stepping Down – Assesses the US Economy and the Cryptocurrency Industry