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His trade war with China (and only China) is one of the few administration's positions I whole wholeheartedly support (as a economics dilettante, no expert).
by SubiculumCode 8y ago
His trade war with China (and only China) is one of the few administration's positions I whole wholeheartedly support (as a economics dilettante, no expert).
- debacle 8y agoOur "trade war" with Canada is a proxy trade war with China. Our "trade war" with Europe is, to a much more limited degree, a proxy trade war with China. A big part of the rationale with all of these little trade wars is to make China stand alone on the global stage, so that they are more easily negotiated with. A secondary effect is to eliminate "Made in $country" goods that are 90% manufactured in China and finished in e.g. Italy or Canada.
- pergadad 8y agoThat doesn't make much sense at all. Ruining goodwill and relationships (and of course trade) with YOUR MOST IMPORTANT ALLIES is certainly not just proxy economic warfare. The EU economy as a whole is bigger than either China or the US. Don't try to find a logic when there clearly is none. Trade war with EU and Canada might be the most unhelpful thing Trump has done.
- debacle 8y agoYou're providing an emotional response to a logical appeal.
- pathseeker 8y ago>Ruining goodwill and relationships (and of course trade) with YOUR MOST IMPORTANT ALLIES That's not how this works. A trade tariff dispute doesn't mean anything about the relationships in other matters unless they are brought up as part of the negotiations. Each country isn't a single person being directed by their feelings being hurt. So we can certainly negotiate with Canada to get them to lift dairy tariffs or whatever and still count on them not to allow Russia to setup air force bases there.
- NikolaNovak 8y ago>>Each country isn't a single person being directed by their feelings being hurt. Umm, sorry for being flippant, but are we reading the same news about US foreign policy last 18 months...? :-/
- pathseeker 8y ago>Umm, sorry for being flippant, but are we reading the same news about US foreign policy last 18 months...? :-/ Not sure. I don't recall any news about the US going to war or halting trade with any of its previous allies. I don't remember reading anything about the five eyes agreements changing. Do you have other news sources? The phrase being used is "ruining relationships". Maybe you have a different definition of "ruined" if you think Trump has ruined any relationships with allies.
- sheepmullet 8y ago> Trade war with EU and Canada might be the most unhelpful thing Trump has done. Actually it’s an incredibly smart culturally sensitive move - it allows the Chinese to save face. Instead of making it the West vs China the perception has been shifted to Trump trying to get fairer trade deals for the US even with close allies.
- SubiculumCode 8y agoThat is something to consider. Interesting. But anyone in the know knows that it is about China. And so, it is about saving face with the general public, not the technocrats.
- sheepmullet 8y agoSort of - Trump really does intend to get better deals on trade from our allies. It’s not a ruse to deceive the Chinese. As such even the technocrats know the focus is only on China because they are the worst offender on trade. It helps keep trade issues limited to trade.
- yxhuvud 8y agoThis doesn't make sense - if you are doing trade war against everyone else, then the one standing alone will be you, not China.
- methodover 8y agoYes, but what’s the actual strategy? According to Woodward’s book, Trump’s true opinion is that “Trade is bad.” These tarrifs aren’t negotiating chips — something unpalatable to get what he wants. They’re what he wants.
- SubiculumCode 8y agoTrump may have less to do with it.
- SubiculumCode 8y agoSome ass is downvoting all comments critical of China.