The Escape 3 was under $400, the 8 speed Escape 2 just over $400, and the Escape 1 was around $600, and you got 9 speed, and carbon fork. These days, the Escape 3 disc is $550, the Escape 2 Disc is almost $700, while the Escape 1 Disc is $850. Other than Disc brakes they seem to be almost the same bikes.
The disc brakes add costs. So do tariffs. The Chinese government doesn't pay the tariffs. Chinese factory owners don't pay the tariffs. Consumers do.
Besides, even $400 is beyond the reach of 10s of millions Americans and billions of residents of this planet.