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U.S. may push Japan, EU not to strike trade deals with China: Ross

17 Comments
By David Lawder and Karen Freifeld

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17 Comments
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Basically, the US is saying countries must choose between the US or China. I have no love for the latter, but creating such a dichotomy might backfire. Some countries might choose China, isolating America. The world is fragmenting, and that is dangerous.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

Let the Americans buy only "Made in America" products and lets see how long that lasts.

China's stated goal is to do that with its own products. The "Made in China 2025" initiative is to make China largely self-sufficient. That's fine with you, right? But if the US tries to push back, that's outrageous? Hypocrisy, much?

10 ( +13 / -3 )

I don't think a country like, say Germany, would want to lose out on access to the Chinese market. For example, it's generally even a better time for the German auto industry selling in China seeing how their American counterparts are less competitive due to Trump's policy. The same thing can be said about Japan.

The US keeps enticing their allies to do something against China, yet at the same time, treats them like how they treat China in terms of economics and trade.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Wish the USA was working with "partners" and acted nicer towards friendly nations. Win-Win.

China doesn't like free trade or fair trade or many of the human rights that the rest of the world accepts. For China, everything is connected. That's one of the good things about dictatorships. Too bad there are 10,000 bad things.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Basically, the US is saying countries must choose between the US or China. I have no love for the latter, but creating such a dichotomy might backfire. Some countries might choose China, isolating America. The world is fragmenting, and that is dangerous.

I think it will largely go down an east/west divide if that does happen and it will be interesting to see the position Japan eventually takes, but I also think most countries are going to have a policy of trying to keep both countries happy to give them as many options as possible. That would be the most sensible policy to have and its the one most countries are pursuing right now. Why change?

Look in Asia itself. Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, Indonesia etc etc. They all are attempting to keep their options open and not putting up any more barriers than they have too. Not taking sides on any given issue more than is necessary or in their own national interest.

Most companies are still going to find it far easier to operate in the United States where they are not forced to comply with CCP requirements including party linked officials on the board, where partnerships in most instances don't require heavy government oversight and approval and of course where everyone speaks English as the global language.

You are still, at the end of the day, dealing with a state economy in China, not a market economy like the U.S, even though of course the U.S government through state and local governments also provide subsidies etc, its clearly not on the scale of state intervention that China embarks upon.

Then there is the whole question surrounding China's social credit system and surveillance which is terrifying to contemplate. How much of that will you be subject to as a foreign company and a foreign national if you live and work in China or deal with Chinese businesses. Are you expected to keep records, install cameras everywhere? Maybe there are people on this site that know the answer to those questions but by 2020 it will all be in place.

China's stated goal is to do that with its own products. The "Made in China 2025" initiative is to make China largely self-sufficient. That's fine with you, right? But if the US tries to push back, that's outrageous? Hypocrisy, much?

And China is entitled to have that strategy and America is just as entitled to combat it so its already second class industrial capacity doesn't decay any further. American needs to re-industrialise and rebuild its infrastructure on a massive scale and join the 21st century. There is no way to do that other than getting as much industry as possible back on American soil. It can't rely on the service industry, on agriculture, on defense. Its not just about more factories either and they products they provide, its about the skills they demand and generate which are then used in turn to build new road and rail which America desperately needs.

America can no longer afford to use China as its factory. People need to realize, those days are over.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

If they're having a trade war, why would one side follow the orders of the other?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

The sooner they realise that their time has passed the better. 

So you're looking forward to a time when the world's supreme economic leader is a -- Communist dictatorship? Well, I'm not. I guess I'm strange that way.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Supporting a dictatorship is like supporting cannibalism. You have no idea how terrible it is......until you find yourself on the menu.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

How do you push EU to do such, or even Trade with Iran?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

So you're looking forward to a time when the world's supreme economic leader is a -- Communist dictatorship? Well, I'm not. I guess I'm strange that way.

Probably would be less hostilities than now. I think the US has been involved in more wars, regime changes, invasions, etc in the past 100 yrs or so than any other country.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Again, America waving the big stick, and coming from crooked Ross is even more of a joke. Time has come to isolate the US and all its illegal policies. The world is a big place and America is running scared of China economically and this part of the world. Here it's where it's all happening the innovation, medical breakthroughs, investments , a young switched on population who don't need the US. Let the Americans buy only "Made in America" products and lets see how long that lasts. This part of the world will survive without America and its big stick mentality, and their " do as I say and not as I do" policies, all, while the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

-2 ( +10 / -12 )

Me too, not exactly a fan of the CCP, but I'm also sick and tired of USA acting like a world dictator. Whatever Japan and EU do should be their own choice.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

"Chinese officials do not appear in a mood to talk at the moment."

I'll bet!

"Some countries might choose China"

That would be a mistake.

 "Damn sick and tired of this Russian-controlled deplorable country."

Get used to it, Pukey.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

trump is just trying to get others to do his dirty gangster work for him

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Love it or not, China represents the economic powerhouse of the future. The US is no longer the workshop of the world and its cant stand to loose its status. This is an act of desperation. If the US was less blinded by its own sense of self importance it would look to cooperate and build trust with China that complimented both sides. However, the US being what it is seems to be resorting to economical blackmail to gets what it wants.

The sooner they realise that their time has passed the better. All eyes turn to the East, for this will be Asia's Century! Like it or not this will happen and is already in reality.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Damn sick and tired of this Russian-controlled deplorable country.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

I think Germany already has a good deal with China. I don't see anything changing. This may be an opportunity for the UK to complete their BREXIT deal. Dump may assist the UK out od spite because the EU won't follow him.

Has Dump forgotten that he was laughed at by the world recently?

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

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