world

China announces $60 bil of U.S. goods for U.S. tariff retaliation

70 Comments
By JOE McDONALD

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

70 Comments
Login to comment

Once again, the left doesn’t get it, this hurts China equally. They are testing this President, every other President that threatened tariffs backed off, Not this President and that is most definitely concerning to China as they try to further test this President. China is equally if not more so on the US and internationally then the other way around.

Why do you preface everything you write with some variation on “the left doesn’t get it”? Why not just debate the actual person you are responding to instead of some straw man? It just detracts from what you are saying, which is factually accurate, but then you quote a lefty source while in the same source saying that the left doesn’t understand this thing even though obviously it does since you are citing it just makes no sense.

15 ( +16 / -1 )

China, if you're listening, all you need to do to is slap tariffs on pork rinds and slurpees - that'll bring the conservative base to its knees. 

'Trade wars are good, and easy to win'

Imbecile.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

There are ways to deal with China; humiliation is not among them. Trump exudes desperation currently in such rising amounts (his tweets are like that thermometer the vet sticks up my dog's rear cavity) that China looks to simply ride it out.

For them, it's a twofer: better negotiation position and humiliating Trump. This'll take a few years, apparently, but China has always proven far more patient than the US.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Oh Dango, if only it were that simple. That comment shows an astounding lack of basic understanding about trade.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

we have a 305 billion dollar trade deficit with China. It means if we haulted trade with them we would save 203 billion dollars. We can only win.

People who know nothing about a subject look extremely silly when they say something they think shows their knowledge of said subject, but clearly shows they have no idea whatsoever about that of which they’re talking.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Please tell that to most of the liberals, I want to know the same thing.

This isn’t an article about liberals, it’s about US China trade.

The problem is, China and the US economy are completely intertwined, they need each other and China being China as the article said wants to be the dominant to the US as fast as possible and if they can cheat and screw America in the process, so be it. No one wants a trade war. I don't, I play the market and I carry a towel constantly with me, but the last 3 Presidents were stupid in never addressing the issue and allowing China to do whatever it wants and not holding them accountable for these horrible trade practices. I deeply applaud the President for taking on China like this and I wish the other Presidents would have, had they, we wouldn't be here no discussing this and if Trump allows this to continue further, the country will really be screwed.

I agree with most of this. My main problem with Trump’s trade policy (my problem with it, not all liberals or whatever, and many conservatives too) is that he is doing it in a hamfisted way that isn’t as effective at achieving its goals as it could be. He hasn’t got an end game planned out, just ratcheting up tariffs to show that he is being tough, but without negotiations or anything else that would lead to anything. This is further evidenced by the obvious confusion in China about what it is Trump wants from them, since he only makes vague and contradictory statements rather than entering any formal negotiations. The counterparty in a dispute like this has to be given some idea what your position is so they can figure out there own and work towards a bargain. Instead the only thing China can do is mimic what the US is doing and retaliating. It’s a lose lose situation which it doesn’t have to be, all thanks to Trump doing this in a poorly thought out way.

Plus you have his declaration of quasi trade wars with the rest of the world meaning he gets no cooperation from allies who otherwise would be following the US lead and piling up on China, which they aren’t doing.

This is not a liberal against conservative argument just because it contains a critique of Trump, it should be debatable on its own merits.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

True, China has many "invisible" trade restrictions tolerated under WHO rules, but they themselves understand they must reform, and have been incrementally for decades. This came about through quite discussions with counterparts from various countries and is ongoing.

The main cause of America's deficit with China is America's low savings rate and its insatiable demand for all sorts of cr@p manufactured in China. Every time I return to the US, the shear amount of this stuff Americans are willing to trade their money for never fails to astound me.

This is like blaming McDonalds for obesity - nobody forces you to eat there, just as no one forces Americans to shovel in all this stuff. But it's always easier to blame the supplier.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

No, I disagree. It will be a lose, lose situation for millions of Americans if Trump just folds

Your economy is the biggest in the world, it's booming, unemployment is low, stocks high, your companies dominate entire markets, yet you've allowed yourself to become convinced that the whole world is picking on you. European & Asian companies are gleefully waiting to fill the gaps left by Trump's rashness.

Trump is not the guy to do that. He’s the prime benefactor of the staus quo.

Trump supporters still not getting that he isn't a man of the people. In searching for someone from outside the traditional political elites, they picked someone far worse; a man with a shaky fortune to protect. He's not the droid you were looking for.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

China on Friday announced a $60 billion list of U.S. goods including coffee, honey and industrial chemicals for retaliation if Washington goes ahead with its latest tariff threat.

Awesome! I feel sorry for ordinary Americans who could feel the brunt of trade wars and all that it entails. But all this is down to the petulant PotUS.

I continue to try and boycott American goods, although it's not always easy.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Obama has the press and the entire media on his side. Trump does not.

Ironically you’re unable to figure out why.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

 Take at look at our economy, dude. And this is with virtually all the Democrats against it. its was booming in 2007~2008 and then it wasn't, every upturn get a downturn, nobody remembers Bush for the good economy at the end of his Presidency, they remember the wars, 9-11 and the GFC.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Putin must be loving this. His puppet is making NATO, China, and the US weaker, which makes Russia relatively stronger.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Jobs report for steal and coal, steal and coal production quarterly reports just came out as well. All scaling down.

So, what is the point again of having a trade war with China again? Can someone remind me?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

@serrano Obama has the press and the entire media on his side. Trump does not.

You frequently post quotes taken from RT and Sputnik. Are you saying they - even Putin's global media network needs to be included when you say 'entire media' - Fox 'news', infowars, and the other extremist media outlets, including youtube sites, you refer to are on Obama's side? Someone's suffering Obama derangement syndrome. Waiting for 'it's Hillary's fault'.

Not one person who voted for Trump in 2016 is gonna vote for anyone else

To quote your idol Vlad 'Can't prove it! Can't prove it!'

Guaranteed, China is going to blink first.

Someone doesn't understand China very well.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

The clueless dangerous embarrasment named Donald J Trump (Narcissus Trumpnocchio) is the main threat to U.S. national security and world stability.

Soon he will find out that trade wars are not winnable, and that the biggest loser with be: We, the People of the United States of America.

Meanwhile, he will continue to spread disinformation, fake news and misinformation. Only his political base is gullible enough to believe it.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Oh, I understand very well. Obama and the MSM still can't get over Trump's election victory. hehe

Nope. Strike one. You've got two more, let's see if you can hit it out of the park!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

China wants to shoot themselves in the foot as well, so be it.

China lost 20million workers during the last GFC and they hardly flinched, let see if Trump can sacrifice the same.

As well as China. Again, we both can't be without the other, if China falls, the US falls, if the US falls, China will fall. Again, we have conjoined economies, hold the line!

President Xi doesnt have to worry about reelcetion communist party will always hold power no matter what happens, Id say Xi can hold the line longer than Trump can. Flanking maneuver ready for deployment!

And the Chinese buy a lot of iPhones, you just made my point.

Apple ranks 5th in the Chinese smatphone market with Chinese manufacturers all ranking higher, could easily take up Apples share if Apple moved out.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@serrano No, but someone doesn't understand Trump's resolve

Like he showed in Helsinki? hehe

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Brilliant! Hold the line!

wait for it that flanking maneuver right up the behinds of American companies growth. large portion of it

with their factories and sales in China. lol

That prompted concern among American companies that retaliation might expand to disrupting their operations in China. Korea and Japan have both felt it in the past , American firms are next on the block,

Apple manufactures nearly all its products in China because its the cheapest region to do it , moving out will just make their products more expensive and noncompetitive, GM sells more cars to Chinese than Americas etc etc.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

And the Chinese buy a lot of iPhones

Are those included in our export numbers?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

They can, but with the smaller populations, the outputs, the man power,

its nothing to do with manpower there plenty of that in all those countries , its available farming land in rural areas all those countries have huge spaces available. Take a look at little NZ , small population of 4 million with large rural areas of grazing land has made them the biggest dairy exporter in the world, hold 20% world market share, exports twice as much as 2nd place Germany

3 ( +3 / -0 )

6 years later and the Democrats will still have a zero message.

but there is likely to never be another misogynistic egotistical egomaniac pathological lying POTUS to sit in the white house again and when Trumps long gone his only legacy will be the jokes people say about him at parties.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

China has a food safety issue and it depends on a lot of produce from the US to feed its people. No other country can meet its demand.

Russia Canada Australia are all large wheat exporters , Russia will surpass the US within the next couple years , Soybeans Brazil exports more than the US also there are many other large exporters of these same grains, now Trump has effectively priced the US out of the market with Chinese retaliatory tarriffs these other countries will most likely take Americas share. The only reason America exports so much is it exports are artificially cheap due to the $10s billions in subsidies, this brings us back to the reason why many countries having tariffs on US agriculture exports due to these artificially cheap prices from unfair trading practices.

So keeping the people, happy, healthy and fed is the smartest and easiest way to avoid any potential uprisings or conflicts. China is the largest agriculture market in the world, they produce more food than anybody to feed its billion+ people , India a close second. More imports from large agriculture producers like Australia Russia, Brazil, Canada all these countries all have far more available farming land than the US China can easily find others to supply their markets, Im sure theyre all lining up now to take a big bite out of American market share in China. lol

uprisings or conflicts. lol yeah right itll be Tiananmen Square all over again, A Trumps uprising well that seems far more likely than a Chinese one, when Trumps gone Xi will still be there, hold the line!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Apple ranks 5th in the Chinese smatphone market with Chinese manufacturers all ranking higher, could easily take up Apples share if Apple moved out. like I said Apple ranks 5th in China with 11% market share ,

https://www.counterpointresearch.com/huawei-led-china-smartphone-market-top-four-chinese-brands-captured-record-67-share-2017/

which is close to the 10% world market share outside the US . when you include the US that jumps to 14% with the vast majority of Iphones sold in the US, not surprising it being an American company which Ive stated all along the world outside the US, Apple just isnt as popular as people make it out to be

2 ( +2 / -0 )

If China wants to play hardball, Trump needs to hold the line, we both need each other.

No its Trump who wants to play hardball, he just expected China to rollover and kowtow to him, now he can see they wont hell have to live with the political and economic repercussions, He only has 2 or 6 more years to keep his ship together. China politically indefinitely, economically, whats another 20 million living in poverty when 500 million are living there already

2 ( +2 / -0 )

NZ is not China. NZ has tough food safety regulations, China does not.

and thats one of the reasons China is NZ biggest customer, along with Australia Canada equally strict safety standards, Russian Brazil Argentina probably not as strict but far better than China hence much of their exports go there also. Chinese tariffs on the US gives developing export markets like Russian , Brazil, Argentina a advantageous boost in capturing much of US market share in China, longer the trade war goes on the worse off it'll be for American farmers. Just look at Beef exports to Japan, America was the largest exporter until made cow outbreak, now Australia has taken that position America still struggles to regain that lost share to Australia . America beef exports will take a hit as the Chinese tariffs have been raised to 33% another market where Australia is set to grab a larger share .

2 ( +2 / -0 )

we have a 305 billion dollar trade deficit with China. It means if we haulted trade with them we would save 203 billion dollars. We can only win.

That's Billy Wayne Ruddick Jr., PhD-level analysis.

Chinese authorities warned earlier that if the dispute escalated, they would adopt unspecified "comprehensive measures." That prompted concern among American companies that retaliation might expand to disrupting their operations in China.

That's the SK-option. How far will this go until they go to the nuclear option (trillion dollar debt).

2 ( +2 / -0 )

How many people are in NZ? There is no way that tiny country can come close to the output the US does,

Australia exports more beef and almost as much wheat as the US , average farm sizes in the US is around 440acres Australia is about 3000acres with the biggest being 6million acres!

theyre the largest exporter of Iron ore and one of the largest coal, natural gas they rank second only to Russia, all with only 24million people. like I said manpower isnt the issue its the available resources, whether it be farmland, resources in the earth. America has large farm land available but its reaching its limits as urban sprawl and its growing population eats up land thats available, Russia, Canada Australia Brazil will never have this problem.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

over a long haul there is no way Australia or New Zealand can ever meet that high demand on a continual basis. This is why escalation in this trade war will soon come to an end. Unless these countries can increase the size of the manufacturing facilities in population within the next year or two and I don’t see that happening anytime soon.

It's interesting you don't realize these exact same issues affect the US as well.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Of course I realize it.

Really? Because if you really realized it, you'd realize that there are way more suppliers in the world than just Australia and New Zealand, their individual (or even combined) capacities are irrelevant. Your comments on them needing to increase their productivity in the next year ignores that fact that countries will be buying from the world supply, not just Australia and NZ.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Oops, submitted too soon.

Mutual assured destruction.

Except its not. None of the rest of us face trade destruction from trade wars. The US is the only country facing that right now.

But you guys can feel safe about one thing, if the US economy collapses, Trump will make a whack of money off it! Just like he did in 2008 when the economy collapsed. Collapsing economies is an entrepreneur's dream, as it means that everything gets disrupted, leaving a lot of opportunity. Trump jumped on that opportunity in 2008, and he'll do it again when he crashes the economy this time.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

But not for the long haul

What a silly comment. None of us are getting off this planet any time soon - we're ALL in it for the long haul.

which the demands can’t be met

The rest of the world can make up for any deficit as a result of the US pissing off the world, while turning inward on itself. There is nothing that the rest of the world cannot make up through other countries.

if so, then No one in the US would be biting their nails and people in China wouldn’t be nervous.

People whose livelihoods are already feeling the pinch from the trade wars are going to be nervous, regardless of country.

In the US, they will eventually vote in someone who will stop the pain. In China, they don't have that option, and have no choice but to suffer stoically.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

over a long haul there is no way Australia or New Zealand can ever meet that high demand on a continual basis. This is why escalation in this trade war will soon come to an end.

nobody said China would stop buying US agriculture goods , its just US producers will have to sell at reduced profit due to the higher tariffs, other countries who produce cheaper will likely grab some of that share from America. America alone couldn't come close to supply Chinas demand all by themselves which is why so many countries now supply China. I agree this trade war will likely end sooner than later, but I highly doubt Trump will get what he wants from China, even if he miraculously does it wont stop China from targeting US firms in China to compensate for the loss. The job losses and bankruptcy will hurt Trump far more politically than it will Xi, the longer it goes on the more itll play into Chinas hands

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Only China can prevent the loss of factories- with the loss of millions of jobs. To prevent this loss, China needs to stop dumping and dismantle unfair trade practices. China lost 20million jobs during the last GFC , they got them back and more over the last 10yrs. 20million job losses is nothing when youve got 500million people living in poverty. Lets see how 2.6million job losses (how many America lost after the GFC) goes down politically for Trump come next election

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Trump will up the anti with massive tariffs on Chinese goods, watching Chinese factories close by the tens of thousands and millions of unemployed taking to the streets. Trump knows this well and so does China.

Umm, no. Chinese are not allowed to ‘take to the streets’. They do not have the same freedoms as Americans.

Americans will take to the streets way sooner than the Chinese will rise above their overlords. And trump needs reelection. So he’ll fold just like he did with the EU.

i know you people want to believe he’s some sort of super “4D chess player” (hah), but he’s really just a bumbling fool who is smart enough to think he knows what he’s talking about, yet isn’t actually smart enough to see the fundamental negotiation errors he has made.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Australia exports more beef and almost as much wheat as the US , average farm sizes in the US is around 440acres Australia is about 3000acres with the biggest being 6million acres!

Sure, for now, but on a continual basis with a massive population and with the demand of produce.

1.   Soybeans: $15 billion

2.   Civilian aircraft: $8.4 billion

3.   Cotton: $3.4 billion

4.   Copper materials: $3 billion

5.   Passenger vehicles (small engines): $3 billion

6.   Aluminum materials: $2.4 billion

7.   Passenger vehicles (large engines): $2.2 billion

8.   Electronic integrated circuits: $1.7 billion

9.   Corn: $1.3 billion

10. Coal: $1.2 billion

over a long haul there is no way Australia or New Zealand can ever meet that high demand on a continual basis. This is why escalation in this trade war will soon come to an end. Unless these countries can increase the size of the manufacturing facilities in population within the next year or two and I don’t see that happening anytime soon.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The world has a problem uniting among themselves when it comes to trade.

Where are you getting that from? The world has spent the last year planning for trade that does not include the US, including the signing of the TPP, a massive agreement that bypasses the US altogether. Canada ended up making up for the loss of steel trade with the US and then some, by trading with other countries.

Trump was stupid enough to think that because the US has the biggest economy, everyone needed the US. Big mistake. The US only accounts for a small amount of world trade, and with Trump’s unreasonable, unrealistic, and unintelligent attempt to start a trade war with everyone at once, the rest of us are saying ‘ok, have your tantrum in the corner, and the rest of us will get on without you.’

0 ( +0 / -0 )

When push comes to shove, America can manufacture anything America needs

No they can’t. They sold off their domestic supply lines decades ago. They literally don’t have the capacity to meet all their needs, and certainly not at the same affordability and quality of life they have now. And once Americans see their choices for instant gratification decline, you can bet they are going to blame it on trump.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Everything and everyone in China is way over levered, and the economy is therefore in a high risk position which the government was trying to fix.

Swap 'America' for 'China' in this sentence, and it's just as accurate.

There is starting to be pushback against China for this.

Just like there is starting to be pushback against America from within for Trump's ridiculous stance on trade.

The difference is, the CPP doesn't need to be re-elected, Trump does. China will be able to endure years and years of hardships that the USA never could.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It's interesting you don't realize these exact same issues affect the US as well

Of course I realize it. One can’t be with the other. Just like if Russia wants to nuke the crap out of us, we will do the same. Mutual assured destruction.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Really? Because if you really realized it, you'd realize that there are way more suppliers in the world than just Australia and New Zealand, their individual (or even combined) capacities are irrelevant.

But not for the long haul which the demands can’t be met, if so, then No one in the US would be biting their nails and people in China wouldn’t be nervous.

Except its not. None of the rest of us face trade destruction from trade wars. The US is the only country facing that right now.

Yes and good on the President for holding the line.

But you guys can feel safe about one thing, if the US economy collapses, Trump will make a whack of money off it! Just like he did in 2008 when the economy collapsed. Collapsing economies is an entrepreneur's dream, as it means that everything gets disrupted, leaving a lot of opportunity. Trump jumped on that opportunity in 2008, and he'll do it again when he crashes the economy this time.

At the rate the economy is going, Moses couldn’t even with a giant flood sabotage it

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

American citizens will again elect Trump to the Presidency of the United States of America, much to the disdain of a few outsiders.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

"Every other nation that has had to deal with Trump since he slithered into office is aware that he's weak, an uneducated jackass, and not likely to be around much longer.

They're just waiting him out.|

They're gonna have to wait until noon Jan.20, 2025.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

nobody said China would stop buying US agriculture goods ,

Of course they won’t, that obvious, just like we won stop shopping at Walmart.

its just US producers will have to sell at reduced profit due to the higher tariffs, other countries who produce cheaper will likely grab some of that share from America.

For the time being.

America alone couldn't come close to supply Chinas demand all by themselves which is why so many countries now supply China. I agree this trade war will likely end sooner than later, but I highly doubt Trump will get what he wants from China, even if he miraculously does it wont stop China from targeting US firms in China to compensate for the loss. The job losses and bankruptcy will hurt Trump far more politically than it will Xi, the longer it goes on the more itll play into Chinas hands.

Yes, but as with any marriage it’s a give and take, not one sided which it has been. Thank God Trump is not backing down, it hurts, but we can’t allow China to continue with these unfair trade practices, I don’t think in the long run it will hurt Trump. I know the left wants that very much, but when you think of the alternative.....

Shudder the thought.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Russia Canada Australia are all large wheat exporters , Russia will surpass the US within the next couple years

They can, but with the smaller populations, the outputs, the man power, there is no way they can meet the demands otherwise China would have used them from the beginning. If Russia keeps on this trajectory, their economy will be bigger than Texas, good news. Lol

https://www.chinabusinessreview.com/what-america-exports-to-china/

China is the largest agriculture market in the world, they produce more food than anybody to feed its billion+ people

Here’s the problem with that. China has a food safety problem, they don’t even have a FDA or any kind of standard or food regulations.

To make matters worse, food quantity is not China’s only problem — food quality has also become a big issue. Over the last five years, Chinese consumers have had to contend with everything from tainted milk to expired meat, raising serious questions about whether food in China is safe for consumption.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackperkowski/2014/09/25/chinas-growing-food-problemopportunity/

lol yeah right itll be Tiananmen Square all over again, A Trumps uprising well that seems far more likely than a Chinese one, when Trumps gone Xi will still be there, hold the line!

No, a Chinese internal uprising.

http://fortune.com/2016/06/06/china-unemployment-rate/

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

No its Trump who wants to play hardball,

Not at all. The last 3 Presidents allowed China to run over the US, not anymore.

he just expected China to rollover and kowtow to him, now he can see they wont hell have to live with the political and economic repercussions,

No, he knew China would put up a fight, China thought Trump would give in, not happening and thank God for that.

Hold the line!

He only has 2 or 6 more years to keep his ship together.

That’s a long time and other conservative politicians that believe we are getting hosed by China, especially people like Jebb Bush’s son, there are and will be more people that are well aware of what China does. Marco Rubio is another that understands this very well. So the fight has just begun.

China politically indefinitely, economically, whats another 20 million living in poverty when 500 million are living there already.

Again, the working and ruling class want to “maintain” their lifestyle and they’re starting to feel the pinch and as long as Trump keeps up the pressure and doesn’t back down, China will inevitably understand this sooner or later.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

yes after many of his so called achievements will be rewritten by future POTUS,

Not if it was passed by Congress.

Trumps has opened the gates on the "executive order" any future POTUS that despised him and Im guessing there will be many can just sign his orders away with their own. Republican and Democrats alike shouldn't be surprised when future POTUS do just that. Thank god the constitution doesn't give Trump executive power to ban future executive power to supersed his own, or he would have done it already

Yes and the same will happen to them as well when they leave, but now and here is the kicker, now that Trump has two conservative judges on the Supreme Court, the tilt of power for at st 40 years will favor the GOP! Now all we need is for Ginsburg and Breyer to retire.

and thats one of the reasons China is NZ biggest customer, along with Australia Canada equally strict safety standards,

But the output can’t be met on a massive scale. How many people are in NZ? There is no way that tiny country can come close to the output the US does, if the US didn’t matter, we wouldn’t be here now and China wouldn’t have need to put high tariffs on the US, but because they are so dependent on us, they think strong arming us will break us and make us continue the traditional, we screw you and you get nothing, not happening anymore.

America beef exports will take a hit as the Chinese tariffs have been raised to 33% another market where Australia is set to grab a larger share .

Sure until the market stabilizes.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The world has a problem uniting among themselves when it comes to trade.

Trump will up the anti with massive tariffs on Chinese goods, watching Chinese factories close by the tens of thousands and millions of unemployed taking to the streets. Trump knows this well and so does China.

Only China can prevent the loss of factories- with the loss of millions of jobs. To prevent this loss, China needs to stop dumping and dismantle unfair trade practices.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

(The rest of the world can make up for any deficit as a result of the US pissing off the world, while turning inward on itself. There is nothing that the rest of the world cannot make up through other countries.)

When push comes to shove, America can manufacture anything America needs, raise all the food it needs and also- is capable of supplying and feeding much of the world. A tariff war with China, trump holds the winning hand.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

To understand the trade war with China, you need to understand that China at the moment is having a major slowdown economically. The stock market is down 25%. Many banks are being bailed out by the government. Everything and everyone in China is way over levered, and the economy is therefore in a high risk position which the government was trying to fix. The trade war got in the way, forcing the government to subsidize the smaller banks. China is loaning tens of billions to countries like Pakistan to build ports and railroads and infrastructure. Problem is, these countries have zero possible way to ever repay these loans. So now they are faced with stopping the projects or asking the IMF to bail them out. It is a mess for China and the countries who took the loans. There is starting to be pushback against China for this. So, Trump’s timing to go after China is exactly right. They are in a weakened position right now. Ignore all the hype about how they could sell their $1.4 trillion of US Treasuries —to who??? Not going to happen. The whole world agrees China violates every rule on trade and steals IP. Trump is just the only one who is willing to take them on with the rest of the world cheering him on from the sidelines. Now it appears the EU is willing to cooperate with Trump and revise the WTO and to push China on IP and other trade violations. Something they were never willing to do before.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Trump not backing down with China, has other protectionist countries shaking in their boots.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

China lost 20million workers during the last GFC and they hardly flinched, let see if Trump can sacrifice the same.

Again, it’s not about the workers for China as much as it is, supply and demand.

The impact of the switch to meat has a significant impact on agricultural output and the demand for grain. Because 3 kilograms of feed are needed to produce each kilogram of meat, feeding a large and growing population of animals will be a big challenge as China and the rest of the world gear up to produce more corn and soy beans for animal food. According to a report by the US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, China is expected to account for 40 percent of the rise in the global corn trade over the coming decade, and will become the world’s leading importer of corn by 2023.

China has a food safety issue and it depends on a lot of produce from the US to feed its people. No other country can meet its demand.

And then there’s...

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/business/media/29nuts.html

President Xi doesnt have to worry about reelcetion communist party will always hold power no matter what happens, Id say Xi can hold the line longer than Trump can. Flanking maneuver ready for deployment!

NO, President Xi, has to worry about feeding his people, one thing the Communist party is always afraid of is uprisings, they are a thorn and an issue the leaders just don’t want to dea” with. So keeping the people, happy, healthy and fed is the smartest and easiest way to avoid any potential uprisings or conflicts.

Yeah, about that......

Apple ranks 5th in the Chinese smatphone market with Chinese manufacturers all ranking higher, could easily take up Apples share if Apple moved out.

https://9to5mac.com/2018/05/02/china-iphone-x-sales/

If China wants to play hardball, Trump needs to hold the line, we both need each other.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

its nothing to do with manpower there plenty of that in all those countries , its available farming land in rural areas all those countries have huge spaces available.

Without regulations. Funny, the left doesn’t get it and never will. This is a huge problem for China because....

https://www.theepochtimes.com/vip-treatment-chinese-top-officials-get-special-food-supplies-delivered-to-them_2513491.html

Again, without the US, China is in a ditch. No FDA, huge, huge problem.

Take a look at little NZ , small population of 4 million with large rural areas of grazing land has made them the biggest dairy exporter in the world, hold 20% world market share, exports twice as much as 2nd place Germany.

NZ is not China. NZ has tough food safety regulations, China does not.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

wait for it that flanking maneuver right up the behinds of American companies growth. large portion of it 

with their factories and sales in China. lol

China wants to shoot themselves in the foot as well, so be it.

That prompted concern among American companies that retaliation might expand to disrupting their operations in China. Korea and Japan have both felt it in the past , American firms are next on the block, 

As well as China. Again, we both can't be without the other, if China falls, the US falls, if the US falls, China will fall.

Apple manufactures nearly all its products in China because its the cheapest region to do it ,

And the Chinese buy a lot of iPhones, you just made my point.

moving out will just make their products more expensive and noncompetitive, GM sells more cars to Chinese than Americas etc etc.

Again, we have conjoined economies, hold the line!

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

I agree with most of this. My main problem with Trump’s trade policy (my problem with it, not all liberals or whatever, and many conservatives too) is that he is doing it in a hamfisted way that isn’t as effective at achieving its goals as it could be. He hasn’t got an end game planned out, just ratcheting up tariffs to show that he is being tough, but without negotiations or anything else that would lead to anything.

I agree and that is the risk but also the beauty of it calling their bluff. This is something China is used to to, America always capitulated and as I said, make no mistake, this is hurting China as much as it hurts us, they feed their people with so much of our food that is why they are hiring back hard at the agricultural section of the US economy. It's definitely a rollercoaster ride and we shall see what comes of it, but we know China doesn't respect weakness and that is why they are testing this President and so far, he hasn't budged at all despite many of the objections.

Instead the only thing China can do is mimic what the US is doing and retaliating. It’s a lose lose situation which it doesn’t have to be, all thanks to Trump doing this in a poorly thought out way.

No, I disagree. It will be a lose, lose situation for millions of Americans if Trump just folds. No one, not any of the last Presidents confronted China with the unfair trade practices. China for some odd reason thinks they can cheat and we have to bow down to them, this President is fed up with that. If China wants to exploit and screw their workers and people to gain an advantage to these tariffs that is on them, the President says no more.

Plus you have his declaration of quasi trade wars with the rest of the world meaning he gets no cooperation from allies who otherwise would be following the US lead and piling up on China, which they aren’t doing.

That's not entirely true, the EU President did decide to work with the our President to work on the tariff dispute.

This is not a liberal against conservative argument just because it contains a critique of Trump, it should be debatable on its own merits.

I agree.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

(There aren't many products currently popular among Chinese consumers that absolutely have to be American. Not cars, certainly. Not phones, electronics, cameras, wine, clothing, or luxury goods either.)

Cars, phones, electronics, cameras, not much is made in America today- as many of America's industries have been destroyed by cunning unfair trade practices.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

No, but someone doesn't understand Trump's resolve and abilities very well. Take at look at our economy, dude. And this is with virtually all the Democrats against it.

Bingo!

Your economy is the biggest in the world, it's booming, unemployment is low, stocks high, your companies dominate entire markets, yet you've allowed yourself to become convinced that the whole world is picking on you.

Yup, heard it all my life and hear it even more if there is a Republican President. But if we have a Democratic President going on a suck up apology tour and allow other countries to pillage, rob and rape us, then the US is cool.

European & Asian companies are gleefully waiting to fill the gaps left by Trump's rashness.

Yes, but if you ask any economist, the problem comes that once again they are tied to the US economy and second, they can't fill the market or make up for it, they just don't have that giant infrastructure. When America sneezes, everyone catches a cold.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

The President of the United States of America holds the winning hand.

Without blinking an eye, he will up the anti with massive tariffs on Chinese goods, watching Chinese factories close by the tens of thousands and millions of unemployed taking to the streets.

China . . . knows this well.

China will be on its hands and knees- willing to dismantle unfair trade practices prior to folding with a losing hand.

Prior to China folding- it would be wise to negotiate fair trade with the US.

Fair trade can be a winning hand for the 'now employed' Chinese people.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

The Chinese can get by without iPhones, because there are alternatives, including a large range of perfectly good phones from Chinese companies. 

Yes, but the masses love iPhones and China knows, wants Apple Stores and wants to satisfy the appetite of the growing US IT market. They do have a very young inquisitive population.

But Apple needs both Chinese workers and Chinese consumers for its iPhones, so a tariff war affects them far more than it will affect smartphone consumers in China.

Not the demand, one thing that China is always worried about is unrest, once the public has access to something, taking it away and focusing on issues like wealth and human rights takes precedent and China can’t have that.

And that's really the problem that America is facing. There aren't many products currently popular among Chinese consumers that absolutely have to be American.

If that were true, then we wouldn’t need to be in a turf war, so that is not true and food is one commodity that the Chinese need.

https://www.statista.com/chart/13418/major-exports-from-the-us-to-china-by-goods-category/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonchang/2012/01/22/china-is-175-6-dependent-on-the-u-s/#210c9e13487

America is attacking itself, and it's America that will pay the price for it.

As will China and the Chinese are not that stupid, we both need each other and the current arrangement on tariffs is not working and hurting the US, the President is right for doing this, it’s painful, but he needs to hold the line.

It's actually presenting China with a chance to put American companies out of business and to seek non-American alternatives.

Whcih the rest of the world can’t meet the demands which will put their economies in jeopardy.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Why do you preface everything you write with some variation on “the left doesn’t get it”?

Because they don't get it.

Why not just debate the actual person you are responding to instead of some straw man?

Please tell that to most of the liberals, I want to know the same thing.

It just detracts from what you are saying, which is factually accurate, but then you quote a lefty source while in the same source saying that the left doesn’t understand this thing even though obviously it does since you are citing it just makes no sense.

The problem is, China and the US economy are completely intertwined, they need each other and China being China as the article said wants to be the dominant to the US as fast as possible and if they can cheat and screw America in the process, so be it. No one wants a trade war. I don't, I play the market and I carry a towel constantly with me, but the last 3 Presidents were stupid in never addressing the issue and allowing China to do whatever it wants and not holding them accountable for these horrible trade practices. I deeply applaud the President for taking on China like this and I wish the other Presidents would have, had they, we wouldn't be here no discussing this and if Trump allows this to continue further, the country will really be screwed.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Awesome! I feel sorry for ordinary Americans who could feel the brunt of trade wars and all that it entails. But all this is down to the petulant PotUS. 

No, it actually doesn't come down to the President, it comes down to the American people getting screwed more and more and as bad as a trade war is, it's now at a point where it's now or never. 

I continue to try and boycott American goods, although it's not always easy.

And I will buy ONLY American goods as possible, which is not always easy as well.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

we have a 305 billion dollar trade deficit with China. It means if we haulted trade with them we would save 203 billion dollars. We can only win.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

Guaranteed, China is going to blink first.

"Someone doesn't understand China very well."

No, but someone doesn't understand Trump's resolve and abilities very well. Take at look at our economy, dude. And this is with virtually all the Democrats against it.

Obama has the press and the entire media on his side. Trump does not.

"Ironically you’re unable to figure out why."

Oh, I understand very well. Obama and the MSM still can't get over Trump's election victory. hehe

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

There are ways to deal with China; humiliation is not among them.

I disagree, I think humiliation is the exact thing to do.

Trump exudes desperation currently in such rising amounts (his tweets are like that thermometer the vet sticks up my dog's rear cavity) that China looks to simply ride it out.

What? That's like saying the sky is blue and liberals saying, it's pink. Trump isn't desperate, he's teed off at China and rightfully so. Even Schumer is on board with Trump going after China.

For them, it's a twofer: better negotiation position and humiliating Trump. This'll take a few years, apparently, but China has always proven far more patient than the US.

Yeah? Well, they didn't have a stubborn double downing Trump, let them embarrass each other, but at least Trump has the wilt push on and fight. Kudos!

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

Crazy: "China, if you're listening, all you need to do to is slap tariffs on pork rinds and slurpees - that'll bring the conservative base to its knees."

Har!

bass: "Once again, the left doesn’t get it, this hurts China equally. They are testing this President, every other President that threatened tariffs backed off, Not this President and that is most definitely concerning to China as they try to further test this President. China is equally if not more so on the US and internationally then the other way around."

Guaranteed, China is going to blink first. Meanwhile, oh my...

Trump At 50% Approval According to Rasmussen

Obama has the press and the entire media on his side. Trump does not. And yet he's beating Obama.

Not one person who voted for Trump in 2016 is gonna vote for anyone else, if he continues his work in North Korea and keeps getting rid of burdensome regulations, he’ll have 2020.

-11 ( +0 / -11 )

China, if you're listening, all you need to do to is slap tariffs on pork rinds and slurpees - that'll bring the conservative base to its knees. 

'Trade wars are good, and easy to win'

Imbecile

Once again, the left doesn’t get it, this hurts China equally. They are testing this President, every other President that threatened tariffs backed off, Not this President and that is most definitely concerning to China as they try to further test this President. China is equally if not more so on the US and internationally then the other way around.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/05/us-china-trade-war-supply-chains-consumers

The same applies to Chinese consumers and producers, particularly since about half of Chinese exports are made by enterprises with foreign investors.

The US is targeting hi-tech manufacturers to disrupt President Xi’s flagship industrial strategy, the Made in China 2025 plan, which seeks to make Chinese manufacturing globally competitive by introducing more artificial intelligence and automation. The ability of emerging economies such as China to “catch up” with rich economies depends on their being able to access and adapt the best technology in the world. This lies at the heart of the problem. The US has launched these trade measures in retaliation for China’s poor record on intellectual property rights protection, which includes requiring foreign companies to transfer their technology as a condition of investing in China.

Brilliant! Hold the line!

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites