China's trade surplus with U.S. widens to record $34.13 bil

Most Americans cannot afford to buy an apartment in Singapore. Buying told is not a bad idea right now due to current and proposed Fed rate hikes coupled with the constantly increasing debt. I have always seen gold as insurance and not an investment. I prefer gradual accumulation of small coins rather than any type of bullion.

"Trump just keeps winning" - As much as I dislike Trump this is a silly statement. Nothing has been done yet and even if he makes progress on this issue the reversal will happen over 1-2 years. This is like stopping a freight train.

One big driver is Americans' ridiculous level of consumption. Living in Japan for so long I am often flabbergasted how much "crap" my friends accumulate. Americans have no evil intentions but Americans do love to consume.

I would rather the U.S. focus intently on decreasing and eliminating any technological dependence on China. Especially considering the (now multiple) cases of chips allowing a back door being implanted into servers delivered to the U.S.

One big driver is Americans' ridiculous level of consumption. Living in Japan for so long I am often flabbergasted how much "crap" my friends accumulate. Americans have no evil intentions but Americans do love to consume.

Americans and Western Consumers need to embrace the minimalistic lifestyle, start saving more, paying more into their debt.

When you've got tariffs of 10% and the yuan has devalued 9% YoY, the tariff is effectively wiped out.

You are not going to get much of an impact from tariffs at that rate.

Despite Trump saying that the second batch of tariffs on $200 billion will be 25%, that's not till the end of 2018. Right now, they are 10%. The first $50 billion of tariffs was split up as $34 and $16 billion, eventually set at 25%? (can't get confirmation) and have been in effect for about 2-3 months now, but they are mostly industrial goods, not consumer goods, so again its limited impact.

The second round of $200 billion does contain a lot of consumer goods.

It will be interesting to see if Trump sees these numbers and decides to pull the trigger early on 25%....but I doubt it. Although if they get evidence of currency manipulation, they might. Not convinced China is manipulating its currency though. I think the yuan devaluation is mostly a result of a consistently strong U.S dollar.

Just proves that what Trump is doing with China trade is actually both timely and necessary.

So by that logic it would be both timely and necessary for the UK, Brazil, Hong Kong, Singapore and Saudi Arabia to place tariffs on American goods?

Tokyo-Engr: I would rather the U.S. focus intently on decreasing and eliminating any technological dependence on China. Especially considering the (now multiple) cases of chips allowing a back door being implanted into servers delivered to the U.S.

This is my concern as well, especially Made in China 2025. Those things need to be addressed harshly. I think targeted measures with international support is much more effective than the US going at it alone.

The deficit increase is most likely caused by Americans buying more American products made in China. China didn't force those companies to move there so I don't know why we would punishment them for corporate America's cash grab.

Trump just keeps winning!

Yep. So knee-jerk your support for an all Dem ticket cuz we know NO democrat supported or invested in the the Great American Sellout to the slave labor market. It must have been a single rogue Dem that stopped supporting the middle class and switched to Wall Street and the central bankers.

The Great American Sellout was the market economy working. I thought you conservstives were all about the free market.

China will crash US debt and stock market. Be prepared. Trumps only allies are japan and Australia. Not enough. Time for Americans to buy gold or apartments in Singapore...

China does not have the ability to crash U.S debt. They hold no more than Japan and neither one holds more than 20%. The stock is still up, despite these losses. Many say its overvalued however and thats a whole other issue. The Chinese stock market is way down YoY, but its also not really reflective of the Chinese economy listing just a fraction of major Chinese businesses.

Everyone should buy some gold if they can. Moving to Singapore ain't gonna happen unless you are very wealthy. The cost of a coffee in Singapore is $6. Its a very expensive place to live.

My comment was clearly effective.

What effects would China incur by crashing the US debt market?

The deficit increase is most likely caused by Americans buying more American products made in China. China didn't force those companies to move there so I don't know why we would punishment them for corporate America's cash grab.

It's the conservative way to interfere in the market economy, that's why.

Make China Great Again!

Just proves that what Trump is doing with China trade is actually both timely and necessary.

China will crash US debt and stock market. Be prepared. Trumps only allies are japan and Australia. Not enough. Time for Americans to buy gold or apartments in Singapore...

Chip: "Trump just keeps winning"

Your sarcasm knows no bounds. Too bad Obama, Bush and Clinton didn't do anything about the escalating problem. Trump's dealing with the problem now ( "China's economy is feeling the heat from a tit-for-tat tariff dispute and showing signs of slowing" ) but it's gonna take time to get positive results.

"China will crash US debt and stock market."

Well, there goes China's economy down the toilet, losing their best customer and all. Ain't gonna happen, Goodluck.

It's the conservative way to interfere in the market economy, that's why.

Yep. So knee-jerk your support for an all Dem ticket cuz we know NO democrat supported or invested in the the Great American Sellout to the slave labor market. It must have been a single rogue Dem that stopped supporting the middle class and switched to Wall Street and the central bankers.