Trump to enact $50 billion in tariffs against China, threatening $100b more

[pmv]

I am curious as to your views of Chinese foreign policy. I view Chinese actions on the world stage as far less pernicious than Americas and believe they would be a better world leader than America. However I recognize that I have strong and perhaps irrational hatred of American foreign policy. You lack my bias and thus your perspective would be interesting to me.

I'm starting to think that China is starting to follow the same path as the US. Someone pointed out here that China isn't entirely isolationist, it has expanded and taken over its neighbours over the centuries. But really isn't that the same thing the US did? Expanding to take over a contiguous land-mass, dominating the existing inhabitants, then exerting power over the nearby region (Latin America vs SE asia)....but not taking much interest in having an overseas empire...before eventually waking up and making the leap to become a global power. No wonder Americans worry about China - they know how this story goes.

 

[fskimospy]

Tariffs seem a very bad idea for all the reasons already given. And surely the real problem is Americans consuming more than they can really pay for?

Another problem with the idea of a trade war, is that the Chinese regime's contract with its population is dependent on continuing to deliver increasing prosperity and economic growth. If that growth falters it surely won't go well? And if things go wrong politically in China it surely is going to have a major effect on the global economy. In a serious economic conflict between China and the US, I don't think either side can afford to win, it will be a Pyrrhic victory.

But what bugs me is that while there's a (strong) argument that says more economic entanglement and interdependence makes conflict less likely, it doesn't quite seem to be working out like that. People get angry all the same.

It seems like that’s worked out pretty well. If I’m not mistaken the last 40-50 years have been some of the most peaceful in world history, at least since the advent of the nation state.

Then again, a similar argument was made before World War One, as the world economy was highly interconnected then as well. Oops, haha.

 

[Svnla]

In other news, even giants like Microsoft could not win (much) in china, how could small mom and pop companies that are doing business on eBay, Amazon, and such compete with thieves?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-firms-face-tough-legal-battles-china-ip-105857185.html

 

[sdifox]

How can you make that assertion? That is $350 billion worth of goods that used to be made in America by American workers at middle class compensation. American companies shuttered factories, moved the factories over there, used Chinese labor to make the exact same product and shipped the goods back over here. Not only was that horrible for the American people, it was an atrocity against the environment.

... You think it would not move offshore without China? China is offshoring to Africa for crying out loud

 

[Engineer]

Don't know, but I suspect there's more loss to come.

Trump spent the last year pointing to the Stock Market as his doing when it at most may have been anticipating Tax Cuts. Since the Tax Cuts have been passed though, Trump keeps doing things to tank the Market. Who knows how far will it go.

Big drop the day after and still room to fall. Nearly half of gains since Cheeto took office have been wiped out.

OH, and why no tweets about the great stock market gains by Tweeto lately?

 

[dasherHampton]

Modern China is like a spoiled child that's broken every rule most of its life, sitting next to loaded gun.

How do you deal with that?

 

[JSt0rm]

Modern China is like a spoiled child that's broken every rule most of its life, sitting next to loaded gun.

How do you deal with that?

the spoiled child is America. China just took advantage of our shortsightedness. Blame the babyboomers. They walked right into with their soft selves.

 

[JSt0rm]

Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. Weak men create hard time. The boomers had it easy. Weak.

 

[dasherHampton]

Yeah, maybe you're right.

But China has to stop stealing all the IP they can get their hands on. That's ridiculous.

 

[Jhhnn]

Yeah, maybe you're right.

But China has to stop stealing all the IP they can get their hands on. That's ridiculous.

You obviously didn't read SVNLA's link-

"There are still problems. There is still infringement, sure, but anyone who watches China and speaks honestly about what they see has to admit it has come a long way," Palmer told AFP.

JStorm's ageist bullshit aside what China shows us is that leadership matters. Their leadership set out to build a better China for all of them 40 years ago while our economic leadership just sought greater profit for themselves. Both have succeeded in their own way.

 

[paperfist]

Modern China is like a spoiled child that's broken every rule most of its life, sitting next to loaded gun.

How do you deal with that?

You sick a crazy man named Trump after them. I don't know how this will turn out, but finally someone is standing up to China for better or worse.

Isn't that how he got elected? For not being another ball less politician.

 

[Jhhnn]

You sick a crazy man named Trump after them. I don't know how this will turn out, but finally someone is standing up to China for better or worse.

Isn't that how he got elected? For not being another ball less politician.

He got elected by being the world's greatest con artist.

 

[paperfist]

He got elected by being the world's greatest con artist.

Nah you have that mixed up. That's the technique he used to get into Stormy's pants and Karen's pants, and...

 

[bbhaag]

You sick a crazy man named Trump after them. I don't know how this will turn out, but finally someone is standing up to China for better or worse.

Isn't that how he got elected? For not being another ball less politician.

Exactly. I'm not sure why this comes as such a surprise to anyone. He is doing exactly what he said he would do if he got elected. Maybe people are numb to politicians saying one thing then doing another once they get elected that when a politician actually starts doing what he said he was going to do it just comes as a shock to them.
Honestly it's kind of refreshing. On the campaign trail you say you're going to do something. Then once you get elected you start to do it.

 

[sandorski]

Exactly. I'm not sure why this comes as such a surprise to anyone. He is doing exactly what he said he would do if he got elected. Maybe people are numb to politicians saying one thing then doing another once they get elected that when a politician actually starts doing what he said he was going to do it just comes as a shock to them.
Honestly it's kind of refreshing. On the campaign trail you say you're going to do something. Then once you get elected you start to do it.

Not even close.

 

[bbhaag]

Not even close.

IDK...I'm pretty sure he made mention of putting tariffs on Chinese imports while he was campaigning.

 

[sandorski]

IDK...I'm pretty sure he made mention of putting tariffs on Chinese imports while he was campaigning.

Perhaps, but he said all kinds of other things he did the opposite of.

 

[fskimospy]

Exactly. I'm not sure why this comes as such a surprise to anyone. He is doing exactly what he said he would do if he got elected. Maybe people are numb to politicians saying one thing then doing another once they get elected that when a politician actually starts doing what he said he was going to do it just comes as a shock to them.
Honestly it's kind of refreshing. On the campaign trail you say you're going to do something. Then once you get elected you start to do it.

Politicians usually do what they say they are going to do. The idea that they don’t is a popular myth. If anything, Trump is doing far less of what he claimed than normal and in a lot of cases doing the exact opposite.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trust-us-politicians-keep-most-of-their-promises/

 

[paperfist]

Perhaps, but he said all kinds of other things he did the opposite of.

I don't have a score card, but pulling out of trade agreements, Iran deal, cleaning up ISIS, deporting illegals were part of what he wanted to do right?

Throwing Clinton in jail ain't gonna happen. Not sure about the fence.

Sure there's the whole shit show surrounding him, but if you watched even 1 debate you knew this was coming.

 

[MrSquished]

I don't mind seeing how this plays out. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Sure there's the whole shit show surrounding him, but if you watched even 1 debate you knew this was coming.

Watching him stalk Hillary on stage was an ominous sign.

 

[paperfist]

Politicians usually do what they say they are going to do. The idea that they don’t is a popular myth. If anything, Trump is doing far less of what he claimed than normal and in a lot of cases doing the exact opposite.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trust-us-politicians-keep-most-of-their-promises/

That article was written before Trump took office.It also takes into account other countries besides the US with the last time period being studied 1999.

How is a 50-60% 'keep your promises' rate legit? That means you lie 40-50% of the time.

BTW, here's Trump's Promise Meter which basically says too soon to say:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/trumpometer/

 

[sandorski]

I don't have a score card, but pulling out of trade agreements, Iran deal, cleaning up ISIS, deporting illegals were part of what he wanted to do right?

Throwing Clinton in jail ain't gonna happen. Not sure about the fence.

Sure there's the whole shit show surrounding him, but if you watched even 1 debate you knew this was coming.

Universal Healthcare superior to ACA, protect SS, Pro-LGBT+, Anti-Wallstreet/Big Banks, Drain the Swamp.....

 

[JSt0rm]

You obviously didn't read SVNLA's link-



JStorm's ageist bullshit aside what China shows us is that leadership matters. Their leadership set out to build a better China for all of them 40 years ago while our economic leadership just sought greater profit for themselves. Both have succeeded in their own way.

lol. If you are going to commend the ww2 generation for winning that war then we need to also condemn the boomers for selling the country out for short term (for them) profits. Anyone of that generation who didnt get on the wagon is pretty low tier considering how easy it was for them.

 

[JSt0rm]

This generation coming up now is gonna be a good one I think. They remember all of their parents losing their jobs and having to eat crap for a few years. They will be strong.